Anthony Richardson's Trade Value Hurt by Colts Coach's Blunt Statement
The Indianapolis Colts should be trying to do everything they can to boost the trade value of quarterback Anthony Richardson this spring after the team declined to pick up his fifth-year option.
In February, the Colts and Richardson, a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, mutually agreed to seek a trade this offseason as the team looks to Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback after an impressive 2025 campaign.
No trade has materialized, and general manager Chris Ballard is still trying to find options to trade Richardson as the quarterback shows up for voluntary OTAs.
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On Wednesday, Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter didn’t plan to break any news on where Richardson was on the depth chart when asked how his reps were being split with second-year quarterback Riley Leonard.
“We work through how we want to do that thing,” Cooter said, via video from James Boyd of The Athletic. “And you know, who’s with what group is not any sort of news I’m trying to break here today, but guys are out there getting work. There’s reps to go all around. There’s throws to make. There’s reps to get in drills. Those guys are all a part of the thing, and all getting those reps.”
If the Colts wanted to trade Richardson, they’d be telling the media they’re giving him more reps than Leonard. At the very least, Indianapolis needs to dress up Richardson to look his best by the preseason, when he can put up good enough tape for a quarterback-needy team to make a trade.
Instead, Cooter’s comments suggest Riley and Richardson are splitting reps at a similar clip, and the Colts don’t feel confident naming Richardson as their No. 2, which shouldn’t pique the interest of another team’s front office.
Cooter said Richardson has been active in Phase One and Phase Two of OTAs this spring.
“Anthony showed up here ready to work this week,” Cooter said. “And we’re going to get some good work out of him and try to get him better and give him opportunities to go work his drills and get some throws and all that good stuff.”
Richardson, 23, is doing his part to find a new opportunity via a trade by showing up to voluntary workouts after being disgruntled by the situation in Indianapolis. It’s incredible the Colts aren’t trying to boost his stock by beefing up the player they thought worthy of the No. 4 pick.
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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 6:17 PM.