Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. could soon be on the move after the team extended Daniel Jones after a breakout season.
The former fourth overall pick has had a lackluster start to his career. He's shown he has the athleticism and arm strength, but has struggled to bring that skill set to a polished QB state.
A change in scenery could do Richardson wonders, which is why he is one of the subjects of ESPN's Jeremy Fowler's article exploring mock trade ideas. For each player, Fowler and a team of analysts present four hypothetical trade offers before that team's reporter determines the best trade offer.
The four teams hypothetically vying for a Richardson trade? The Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings -- all NFC North teams.
For the Lions' trade offer, Ben Solak has the Lions giving up their 2027 fourth-round draft pick in exchange for Richardson and a 2028 seventh-round pick.
"Backup quarterback has been an issue for the Lions, as Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen have not been enough to stop the team from yanking Teddy Bridgewater away from high school coaching in Florida. General manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell tend to like quarterbacks with bigger bodies, so Richardson is a good fit. Campbell is an elite motivator who might help light a new fire under Richardson, either as a backup who prepares the right way or as a spot starter in the event of a Jared Goff injury."
Solak's analysis is on the nose. Teddy Bridgewater already has one foot out the NFL door, having already retired once. The Lions' lone developmental QB is undrafted free agent Luke Altmyer, who has a chance to make a run at the backup role given the little resistance ahead of him.
A Richardson trade would be a low-risk opportunity to develop a guy with an incredibly high ceiling. If successful, Richardson could be an option to take over for Goff once his contract is up, saving the Lions money to invest elsewhere on the roster and having a mobile QB that fits the modern game.
Even if Richardson doesn't ascend to an everyday starter level, he still has potential to be a long-term option as a backup. Someone that fans could be comfortable enough seeing on the field if Goff were to ever miss time.
Which NFC North team does Richardson end up with?
Colts reporter Stephen Holder does not take Solak's Lions offer due to the pick swap that would be required. Nor does Holder take Fowler's Packers offer of a 2027 fifth-round pick. Not even Dan Graziano's Bears offer of QB Tyson Bagent.
Instead, Holder goes with Seth Walder's Vikings offer of a 2027 fifth-round pick. What separates the Vikings' fifth-rounder from the Packers' is that it's likely to be a better pick. In a perfect world, it wouldn't be far off from the Lions' fourth-rounder, either. On top of that, the Vikings' uncertainty at QB gives Richardson the best chance to return to a starting role under the guidance of QB whisperer Kevin O'Connell.
READ MORE: Sean McVay just re-opened the Jared Goff-sized wound suffered after 2021 trade
So if these hypothetical Richardson trades were real, the Lions would have to offer a little more to make it happen. Likely sticking with just the fourth-rounder, which might feel a little pricey for someone who has struggled in the NFL. The Lions may prefer to save that pick to draft a QB in what is expected to be a deep QB class.
That's then, this is now. The Lions could use more talent in the QB room behind Goff in 2026, and Richardson is one of the only available options with noteworthy upside. It's a risk, but one that could be worth it to secure a backup while preventing another NFC North team from landing him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google