Anthony RIchardson Commanders
Getty
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is on contract with the team through 2026 with his fifth year option still available to pickup for 2027.
For the Minnesota Vikings, adding players to the quarterback room is a layered initiative with talent, cost, age and longterm upside all serious considerations, and Anthony Richardson potentially checks off every box if the team can nab him at the right price.
The Indianapolis Colts have told Richardson to hunt trade suitors to his heart’s desire, and soon after that news broke came a report from Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that the Vikings and Richardson have “mutual interest” in moving forward together.
Richardson is entering the final season of his four-year, $34 million rookie deal as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but his base salary and roster bonus tally just under $5.3 million, which is all Minnesota would have to pay to take him on.
That solves the financial problem, as the Vikings face a salary cap deficit of $45.5 million in 2026 and already intend on releasing defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and running back Aaron Jones to clear out a little less than $19 million on that bill.
The other concern involving a potential deal for Richardson — who has elite arm and leg talent, despite early struggles with injury and execution across his first three years in the league — is how much he will cost in terms of a trade return. Minnesota got fantastic news on that front Monday, March 2, just nine days ahead of the new league year.
Jason LaCanfora of SportsBoom recently spoke with one current NFL general manager who said Richardson won’t bring in higher than a Day 3 draft pick.
“When pressed on what he would be willing to give up if he believed he had more time to develop Richardson, the GM said he thought maybe the Colts could get a fifth-round pick for him,” LaCanfora wrote.
Anthony Richardson’s Upside, Novelty Give Him Edge Over JJ McCarthy Should He Land With Vikings
Anthony Richardson Trade
GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
If Minnesota is truly interested in Richardson as competition for McCarthy, that assessment should all but seal the deal on their pursuit of the soon-to-be 24-year-old QB, at the very least.
JJ McCarthy, who is less than a year younger than Richardson, has also struggled with execution when he’s been able to stay on the field. McCarthy has played in just 10 games across two regular seasons due to four different injury issues.
He is 6-4 as a starter and has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) at a 57.6 percent completion rate. Richardson’s numbers aren’t any better, with 11 TDs to 13 INTs on 50.6 percent passing and an 8-7 record as a starter in the league.
The real difference resides within the players’ respective ceilings based on athletic talent. Richardson is far and away the superior athlete and offers a wider skill set with which head coach Kevin O’Connell can work to build an offense.
JJ McCarthy, Anthony Richardson Will Have Real Battle for QB1 Job if Minnesota Executes Trade
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
GettyMinnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Fair or not, the second important difference is that McCarthy’s elevation over Sam Darnold, who just won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last month, got former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fired.
Plenty of fans in Minnesota aren’t ready to give up on McCarthy, and after drafting him No. 11 overall just two years ago and seeing him start only 10 games, common logic dictates it isn’t time yet to move on.
But just as the clock ran out on Richardson’s equity in Indianapolis as the fourth pick three years ago, the time McCarthy has to make up for the simple sins of being himself and suffering unfortunate injuries is already growing thin.
Whether the Vikings acquire Richardson or not, O’Connell is not going to give up on McCarthy heading into Year 3. But he isn’t going to do him any favors in what could be McCarthy’s last season with a chance to be QB1 in Minnesota, either.
Perhaps Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk put it best during last week’s NFL combine.
“Richardson and JJ McCarthy would have a true competition, and I don’t know who would win,” Florio said.