When the Indianapolis Colts selected Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they truly felt that they were landing their longtime franchise quarterback.
Unfortunately, that may not be the case. In his first two years with the team, things have not gone according to plan.
Between major injury issues and poor play, Richardson has nearly played his way out of the starting role. This offseason, Chris Ballard went out and signed Daniel Jones to compete with the young signal caller for the starting job.
While Richardson is still being given a chance to start, the Colts are a team who could consider making another quarterback move. In fact, they have now been linked to a potential trade for a clear-cut starting option.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski has named Indianapolis as one of the top trade destinations for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ahead of training camp.
Sobleski noted that Richardson is currently dealing with a shoulder injury. It’s possible that he will be back and fully healthy, but the Colts could consider making a move to bring in more insurance under center.
“If Richardson is not ready for the start of training camp and experiences any kind of setback, the Colts should reassess the situation because a lot is riding on this season. Ballard and Steichen could well be entering a make-or-break campaign,” he wrote.
“Would they rather have Jones or Cousins trying to save their jobs? The answer seems obvious, even if Indianapolis needs to take on a chunk of the latter’s contract and likely surrender a future asset in return.”
He makes a very good point. Both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen could be on the hot seat. Making a move to acquire Cousins could give them a better chance to win now and keep their jobs for at least another year.
During the 2024 NFL season with the Falcons, Cousins was the starter for most of the season. He played in 14 games, completing 66.9 percent of his pass attempts for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. The turnovers were a major concern, but he was playing in his first season since tearing his Achilles.
Indianapolis might have no interest in trading for Cousins. It’s possible that the duo of Jones and Richardson has them feeling comfortable, with rookie Riley Leonard as the No. 3 option.
However, if there is any doubt within the Colts’ management about the quarterback position, Cousins could very well become a legitimate option.
