Getty

Indianapolis Colts decline fifth-year option on QB Anthony Richardson.

To anyone watching the Indianapolis Colts over the last few years, this should come as no surprise. The Colts are declining to pick up the fifth-year option of quarterback Anthony Richardson, according to Mike Chappell of Fox 59 in Indianapolis.

Richardson was in a training camp battle last year with Daniel Jones, who won the job and never looked back. It didn’t help that Richardson was dealing with a busted eye from a pre-game mishap in warmups.

“General Manager Chris Ballard said Saturday that he “hadn’t given too much thought” about the fifth-year option that would have paid Richardson $22.483 million for 2027,” writes Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “But the Colts faced a Friday deadline for a decision.”

Indianapolis Colts made easy decision not to exercise Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year option

After being drafted No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Richardson has been nothing short of a disappointment. In three years, he’s compiled an 8-7 record as a starter, but it’s actually not even as good as it seems. Sure, he’s battled injuries, but he’s also made some questionable decisions and in 2024, before he was benched, he threw for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Oh, and he had a 47.7% completion rate. I don’t know what the Mendoza line is for NFL quarterbacks, but he had to be below it. Numbers may not tell the whole story, but those numbers tell enough of a story that the Colts knew they didn’t want to read the rest of it.

During that same year, he also took himself out of a critical game against the Houston Texans after driving the team inside the five-yard line.

Why?

“Tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” Richardson said after the game. “That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I didn’t think I was gonna be able to go that next play. So, I just told (HC Shane Steichen) I needed a break right there.”

Are you being a serious person?

Indianapolis Colts now have to decide what to do with Anthony Richardson

Richardson, for what it’s worth, has requested a trade. Well, it’s not worth much because the draft just came and went (with a very weak quarterback class) and he’s still on the roster. So, apparently no one wanted him.

It’s still not clear if the Colts even want him. There is no guarantee that Indy will keep him on the roster this year or go with second-year man Riley Leonard as Jones’ primary backup. It will be interesting to see what the Colts do because Jones is coming off of an Achilles injury, Leonard has played in just five games and has one career start, and Richardson…well, he might just have to hang around another year.

“But the fifth-year option was a long shot for Richardson, considering that since he was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, he’s dealt with a variety of injuries, inconsistency and being benched twice,” Chappell continues.

Richardson’s NFL career is about as clear as a software user agreement. When his Colts’ career is over (likely any time between tomorrow and the end of this season), someone will take a shot on him as a reclamation project and hope for the best.