Anthony Richardson Is Calling His Failed Trade Request a “Blessing in Disguise.” Is He Right?
Anthony Richardson requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Nobody came calling. So now he’s back at voluntary OTAs, calling the whole experience “a blessing in disguise.” That’s a very glass-half-full way to look at being stuck on a team you tried to leave, but let’s give the kid some credit for making the best of it.
The trade request wasn’t surprising. Richardson lost his starting job to Daniel Jones, who signed a two-year, $88 million deal in the offseason. Asking for a fresh start somewhere else makes complete sense for a 23-year-old quarterback who still believes in his own ability. The problem is the market disagreed. Colts GM Chris Ballard said publicly that calls had been made but “nothing came to fruition.”
Richardson’s 2025 season was forgettable. He battled an orbital bone injury, struggled to solidify himself as a reliable starter, and couldn’t separate himself from the backup conversation. Teams weren’t going to pay meaningful trade compensation for a player with that kind of recent resume.
Here’s what Richardson has going for him: physical tools that don’t come around often. He is one of the most athletically gifted quarterbacks in the NFL, a legitimate dual threat with arm talent that could have any franchise dreaming if the accuracy and consistency catch up to the athleticism. Those things don’t disappear because the market passed on him.
His best path forward is to have a strong training camp, perform well in limited appearances, and show enough that someone offers real value for him at the next trade deadline. Playing out 2026 with the Colts isn’t the worst outcome if he approaches it with the right mindset. Calling it a blessing in disguise might be optimism masking frustration. But if Richardson produces this year, nobody will be questioning the framing.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
