On Saturday, ESPN’s Indianapolis Colts reporter Stephen Holder tweeted that while no deals were imminent, multiple teams were still interested in Anthony Richardson, including the Green Bay Packers.
That may not matter to the Minnesota Vikings, because they may already be out on Richardson. The Vikings had tried to trade up for him in the 2023 draft, and Kevin O’Connell had expressed affinity for Richardson after they played the Colts in 2024. However, after signing Kyler Murray, Minnesota appears to have closed the door on a potential trade for Richardson.
Adding Anthony Richardson would create a roster crunch. Assuming Murray wins the starting job and the Vikings sign a veteran backup like Wentz, that leaves McCarthy in the “developmental spot.”
Minnesota could trade for Richardson. However, that would risk allowing another team to pick him or McCarthy up off the practice squad, given they won’t carry more than three quarterbacks on the roster.
Still, Richardson appears to be available. Indianapolis signed Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason, and they continue to allow Richardson to explore trade options.
Jones threw for 3,101 yards, with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, in 13 games before tearing his Achilles tendon last year. He’s presumably the Colts’ franchise quarterback, assuming he can stay healthy. Still, Indianapolis arguably could keep Richardson as insurance in case Jones suffers another career-altering injury.
However, Richardson’s time in Indianapolis appears to be over. The fourth pick in 2023 got 15 starts to seize the Colts’ starting quarterback role and threw for 2,400 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Jones, 28, is in his prime and led Indianapolis to an 8-2 start last season; Richardson likely needs a change of scenery.
The Packers are reportedly interested and could swoop in and grab Richardson as a developmental quarterback. Jordan Love is their franchise quarterback, but Richardson could play Malik Willis’ role from last year.
Willis played well in Love’s absence during the past two seasons. He threw for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in 11 games (three starts). Last week, he earned a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.
Miami hired former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and their former assistant GM Jon-Eric Sullivan as their head coach and general manager, respectively, this offseason. Therefore, Hafley and Sullivan had direct connections to Willis. Still, Willis likely would have gotten a similar contract with another team, given how well he played in Love’s absence.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reinvented Green Bay’s offense for Willis. Instead of the typical drop-back progression system they use for Jordan Love, LaFleur used a run-pass option (RPO) scheme for Willis. It simplified his reads and allowed him to use his natural athleticism on scrambles outside the pocket.
RPO systems tend to be ideal for backups, who get less practice time with the starters. Therefore, they have less time to build chemistry with them and have more trouble running a typical offense immediately following an injury to the starting quarterback.
However, RPOs are easier to scheme against. Defenses can put more players on the line of scrimmage, confusing pre-snap reads. Teams that can effectively blitz can also accelerate a quarterback’s processing and disrupt the backfield. RPOs are a good system for backups, but it’s difficult to win using one for a primary starter.
All of that is to say that Anthony Richardson could thrive in Green Bay, removing him as a future option for Minnesota. The Packers are unlikely to flip Richardson to the Vikings, given how it would look for Green Bay if Richardson eventually took over as Minnesota’s starter.
That won’t matter if Kyler Murray revives his career with the Vikings. But suppose Murray doesn’t look like a long-term starter in Minnesota, and J.J. McCarthy doesn’t progress enough to become a franchise quarterback. Then, the Vikings would like another in-house option to step in as a long-term starter.
Minnesota could trade for Richardson and roll out Murray as the starter, then have Richardson and McCarthy compete to be his backup. However, that would fill the quarterback room with three volatile young quarterbacks.
They likely want Carson Wentz or another steady veteran backup who can run the offense. They must avoid forcing a young quarterback into action too early, as they did with Max Brosmer last year.
Therefore, Richardson probably isn’t an option this year. Perhaps they gamble and send a Day 3 pick to Indianapolis, hoping nobody picks him up off their practice squad. However, barring that scenario, he is likely to end up elsewhere.
It would just be unfortunate if that landing spot is in Green Bay. The Vikings would have almost no chance of acquiring Richardson at a reasonable cost if he thrives with the Packers. That would be an unfortunate reality if Kyler Murray doesn’t look like a franchise quarterback in Minnesota.