The quarterback situation in Indianapolis has been a colossal mess since Andrew Luck’s shock retirement just before the 2019 season. General manager Chris Ballard has tried everything, from bringing in experienced veterans to drafting their intended franchise quarterback in Anthony Richardson Sr.
So far, the Richardson experience has been a rollercoaster. Injuries, inconsistency and inaccuracy have been the major storylines as the Colts are yet to fully untap the 23-year-old’s potential.
As a result, the media is losing faith that Richardson can become a franchise guy. ESPN’s Seth Walder went as far as to predict the Colts to have a different franchise passer in the building as soon as next season.
Walder believes that Indianapolis will spend an early draft pick on LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier in 2026, believing he will be a significant upgrade.
The Colts pulling the plug on Richardson after another season of stalled progress would not come as much of a surprise. Resetting under center is a highly realistic outcome, especially if Indianapolis moves on from Ballard and his staff as he fails to elevate the team out of a constant loop of mediocrity.
Nussmeier is entering his fifth season at LSU, where he’s appeared in 31 games, more than double the amount of NFL games Richardson has played in his first two seasons with the Colts.
Grabbing an experienced player under center after a failed development project feels like the safest bet for the Colts to finally find their guy.