Anthony Richardson
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The Steelers could make a push to acquire Anthony Richardson in a trade with the Colts
For the second straight offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck waiting for an answer from legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers. With retirement rumors swirling around him, the Steelers don’t know whether or not Rodgers will be returning for the 2026 campaign. As a result, Pittsburgh finds itself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Even if Rodgers returns to play for one more year, the Steelers are going to need a new quarterback at some point in the near future. One guy who could be of interest for Pittsburgh is former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, who has requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a trade pitch that would see the Steelers acquire Richardson from the Colts.
Steelers’ Anthony Richardson Trade Pitch
Steelers receive: QB Anthony Richardson
Colts receive: 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 121)
The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, with the hope being that he’d become their quarterback of the future. Instead, Richardson started just 15 games over his first two seasons, before he lost the starting job to Daniel Jones in 2025. With Jones getting signed to a two-year, $88 million contract extension, Richardson’s path to starting in Indianapolis appears to be gone.
Richardson’s sample size in the NFL is small, and it isn’t all that impressive (177/350, 2,400 YDS, 11 TD, 13 INT). While he has a cannon for an arm, Richardson’s accuracy struggles have been a huge concern, especially as he’s begun turning the ball over more. However, it also must be noted that Richardson can make an impact on the ground, as he’s run for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns during his limited time on the field.
Considering how he won’t turn 24 years old until May, it’s safe to say there’s still time for Richardson to figure things out under center. Getting a chance to develop in Pittsburgh, where Rodgers could wind up being the starting quarterback in 2026, makes sense. And for the price of a fourth-round draft pick, this would be a relatively cheap investment, considering how high a draft pick was initially used on Richardson just a couple of years ago.
Would Steelers, Colts Be Interested in This Anthony Richardson Trade?
Anthony Richardson
GettyTeams are beginning to show interest in a potential trade with the Colts for Anthony Richardson
Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only quarterbacks on the Steelers’ depth chart currently, and even if Rodgers returns, it’s tough to say that either one of these guys is the team’s quarterback of the future. With the right coaching, Richardson could become that guy, which makes this a flier the front office would likely consider as Rodgers continues to contemplate his big decision.
The Colts don’t have much leverage when it comes to trade talks involving Richardson, because teams know the two sides are looking to part ways. Pittsburgh giving up a fourth-round pick is pretty aggressive when considering the circumstances, especially since they could be trading for only one year of Richardson. As a result, this is almost certainly a trade that Indy’s front office would sign off on if it came across its desk.