A little more than two years in, the Indianapolis Colts may be close to pulling the plug on the Anthony Richardson experiment.
The Colts took a flier on the 23-year-old QB, who had just 13 starts in three seasons with the Florida Gators, with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft — and so far they’ve got very little return on their investment.
Richardson missed 13 games during his rookie season between a concussion and tearing the A/C joint in his throwing shoulder, and he missed six games last season because of a combination of a hip sprain, a lower lumbar sprain and a benching for ineffectiveness.
Given Richardson’s injury history plus general concerns about his development stagnating because of the turbulent start to his NFL career, Indianapolis signed former New York Giants first-round pick Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract to push Richardson and compete for the starting quarterback job.
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Considering Jones’ tenure in New York was almost as forgettable as Richardson’s has been, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team was picking near the top of the draft and looking for another franchise QB next April.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes the Colts will have a top-10 pick and use it to take one of the draft’s most coveted passers in LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
“A top-10 pick will likely signal the end of the current regime, with a new general manager and head coach being hired, which is the best time to marry them to a brand-new quarterback,” Sobleski wrote. “In this case, Garrett Nussmeier of LSU provides the Colt with a polished passer from the moment he joins the team.”
Nussmeier, who is tied for the second-best odds (+900) of winning the Heisman Trophy according to ESPN, has started 14 games in his four years with the Tigers, taking over as their full-time starter last season.
He’s thrown for 5,772 yards, 40 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, including a breakout 4,052-yard, 29-touchdown season in 2024, in which he led LSU to a 9-4 season and 44-31 victory over BYU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl.
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Given Indianapolis’ talent at every other offensive skill position, landing a talented passer like Nussmeier could be just what puts them over the hump from fringe playoff team to perennial contender.
“Nussmeier’s insertion into this Colts offense, with the talent already on the roster, is a recipe for success,” Bleacher Report scout Dame Parson stated. “He is a natural passer who will be coming off his second season as a starter for LSU.
“He throws with good anticipation, accuracy and ball placement to maximize Indianapolis’ talented group of pass-catchers that includes Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell and tight end Tyler Warren.”
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