Could The Jets Bet On Anthony Richardson's Upside In Potential Trade?

Per Colts General Manager Chris Ballard, Anthony Richardson did not report to the first day of offseason workouts and has requested a trade. 

Richardson, a former first rounder out of Florida State in 2023, has appeared in 17-out-of-51 possible games. The fourth overall draftee had dealt with numerous injuries from vision issues to most recently a severe fractured orbital bone in 2025. Overall, when on the field Richardson has taken himself out of games to rest – something that has been frowned on by even the casual football fans.

In 17 games (15 starts), Richardson is 8-7 and has completed 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards, while posting 11 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. It was extremely clear that Richardson’s time in Indianapolis was at its end once the Colts extended Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million extension. 

Daniel Jones’ deal can reach up to $100 million with incentives and has an AAV of roughly $44M. That’s not the type of money a team pays a quarterback to second-string.

So with that, Richardson is looking for the first flight out of Indy and his best landing spot may be at Newark. 

The New York Jets trading for Geno Smith this offseason gives Gang Green their QB1 for the 2026/27 season, but as of now it is unclear who will be backing Smith. New York’s current quarterback room consists of Smith, Brady Cook, Bailey Zappe and Justin Fields. 

Fields’ days with the Jets are limited with him expecting to be released before the summer months. Cook started four games for the Jets last season after beginning the season as QB3, he lost all four games with a lackluster wide receiver room and offensive line protecting him. Bailey Zappe was a very early offseason addition and at this point would not even be a second-option in the quarterback room. New York may still bring back Tyrod Taylor, who currently is an unsigned free agent.

The best option may be Anthony Richardson though. He’s a cheap young option that New York can use as a developmental piece, allowing him to sit and learn behind GS7. Richardson will be 24-years-old come 2026 Week 1. At this point in Richardson’s career he likely won’t find himself starting Week 1 as every QB-needy team has already either acquired a thrower this offseason or is set to draft one. Due to overall sub-average play for a top five pick and injury history, Richardson’s draft stock is definitely not the highest.

New York can realistically acquire Richardson for a pair of sixth or seventh round picks and possibly a low-leverage backup thrown in the deal. 

A trade for Richardson also would have the Jets bet on his upside, hoping for him to find his once electric performances that he was able to put on in college. Richardson’s elite physical tools alone would make him an interesting fit in Aaron Glenn’s offense.

Richardson is built more like a linebacker at 6-foot-4 and 240lbs, but runs a blazing 4.43. Still, only a few quarterbacks in the history of the league have had a combination like that. Due to his speed, Richardson has a game-breaking rushing ability. It is fair to say that he has had a tough time bringing that of what he showed so much in college into the league, but nonetheless he can easily be used in a potential wildcat situation if Frank Reich chooses to. 

Richardson has a high ceiling still, but with that is so much untapped potential just waiting to be used correctly and developed.

This would give New York a chance for a still fairly young quarterback to learn behind a veteran, while making Geno Smith a potential bridge quarterback. It also beats the need to draft a QB this upcoming 2026 draft. If all doesn’t work out with Richardson, the Jets wouldn’t have lost much. His contract also expires at the end of the 2026 season unless his fifth-year option is picked up, making it easy for New York to simply let him go and prepare for the 2027 NFL Draft, which is expected to be a more ‘QB-rich’ draft.

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