NFL Trade Rumors: Indianapolis Colts Expect Quarterback Anthony Richardson to Start in 2025

The Indianapolis Colts aren't quite willing to give up on their young quarterback yet. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Colts will enter the 2025 season with Anthony Richardson as their starting quarterback.

With all that has gone on during an up-and-down season for the #Colts, there is this: They’ll finish the season knowing Anthony Richardson is their QB for the 2025 season and, they hope, beyond.

My story: https://t.co/FXXJEQruJb https://t.co/FXXJEQruJb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2024

Richardson is at the tail end of an up-and-down season that included time missed due to injury and even a benching. Over 15 career appearances, he has amassed 2391 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions to go along with 635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

The Colts took Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he has failed to emerge as a reliable starter in his two seasons with the team. With a huge 6'4", 244-pound frame and a 4.43 second 40 yard dash, he was initially projected as a quarterback who could threaten defenses with power running and deep passing, ala former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and current Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen.

Unfortunately, Richardson hasn't yet demonstrated the requisite durability to punish defenses, or the precision as a passer to sustain an offense. He has already missed 17 of a possible 32 games to this point in his career and has even been declared out for Week 17's matchup with the New York Giants. More importantly, his inaccuracy on short throws and penchant for turnovers has doomed many an offensive possession.

Allen famously struggled in his first two seasons with the Bills before emerging as a dominant player in his third year, so it's possible Richardson could follow a similar trajectory. Still, if the Colts know what's good for them, they won't peg their entire future on Richardson making a leap. At the very least, they need to improve their talent on offense to make things easier on him. Otherwise, they may be looking for a new quarterback before the 2025 season is through.