Andy Reid is making a massive power play to protect his star quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs officially entered a 6 team trade battle for the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson. This move aims to secure a high-end backup for Patrick Mahomes.
The deal focuses on Richardson’s $33.9M rookie contract. He is entering the final guaranteed year of this deal in 2026. Kansas City views him as the perfect insurance policy for their roster.
Andy Reid eyes Anthony Richardson trade
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The timing is critical for the Chiefs. Mahomes is currently working his way back from a late-season ACL injury. The team needs a proven player to lead the offense if recovery takes longer.
Richardson was the No. 4 overall pick in his draft class. He has recorded 2400 yards and 11 touchdowns over 3 seasons. His athletic profile fits the creative system run by Andy Reid.
The financial side of the trade is attractive for Kansas City. Richardson will cost only $5.4M in base salary and bonuses for the 2026 season. This fits well within the team budget.
However, thecompetition is fierce. The Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Rams are also bidding. Every team wants a young talent with high upside.
The Colts are in trade discussions with multiple teams on Anthony Richardson, which could lead to a deal happening this weekend.
The Buccaneers, Chiefs, Lions, Packers, Rams, and Ravens are among the teams who checked in.
Richardson’s value is believed to be a late Day 3 pick. pic.twitter.com/Ufk5qy2rXh
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 13, 2026
The Chiefs have the resources to win this bidding war. They recently restructured Mahomes’ contract. This move freed up $44M in salary cap space for the front office.
Kansas City also holds significant draft capital. They own the No. 9 and No. 29 overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. These assets came after trading star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams.
General Manager Brett Veach spoke about the team’s aggressive strategy for building. Hestated, “The last three years, we were kind of just like in a maintenance stage, and now we’re trying to rebuild this thing again. I think for a GM and a personnel staff, that’s exciting.” This statement reflects the current mindset.
The current depth chart behind Mahomes is thin. It features Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener. Gardner Minshew left the team during the free agency period.
Adding Richardson would provide the most talented backup in the league. His dual-threat ability mirrors aspects of Mahomes’ play style. Fans are waiting to see if Reid closes the deal.
Andy Reid restructures Chiefs roster for upcoming season
Coach Andy Reid is making big changes to the Kansas City Chiefs lineup after a tough year. The team recently moved star player Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for four future draft picks.
Other key starters like Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook also left for new teams during this busy spring season. To save money under the league rules, the team cut Jawaan Taylor and watched several defensive players sign with Washington.
However, the news is not all about players leaving. Reid brought back Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator to lead the scoring unit again.
The team also made a huge splash by signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a record deal. Fans are happy to see veteran Travis Kelce return for one more year to help guide this new group toward another title run.