Richardson Still in Limbo as Colts Explore Pass-Rush Upgrades

Indianapolis, IN – One month after the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. jointly agreed to explore trade possibilities, the fourth-overall selection of the 2023 draft remains on the roster and in uniform at Lucas Oil Stadium. Richardson went through his normal pre-game routine Sunday ahead of the Colts’ Week 2 matchup with the Denver Broncos, but his long-term future with the franchise remains murky.

General manager Chris Ballard has made it clear the organization will not simply give Richardson away. League sources say Indianapolis is open to packaging the quarterback with one of its 2026 draft picks to acquire an established edge rusher who could elevate a defense still searching for consistent quarterback pressure.

Two scenarios have gained traction inside league circles:

Cleveland has fielded calls about 25-year-old outside linebacker Alex Wright, who signed a lucrative extension in November and finished 2024 with a career-best 5.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Wright as the 19th-best edge defender (78.5 overall), and the Browns could clear significant cap space by moving his $33 million remaining salary. Richardson’s $5 million cap hit fits comfortably within Cleveland’s quarterback budget, especially with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders still on inexpensive deals.

Atlanta, meanwhile, owns a crowded defensive-line room but could be willing to part with 2023 third-round pick Zach Harrison. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Ohio State product recorded 4.5 sacks in only seven games last season before a knee injury ended his year. Harrison’s inside-out versatility would address Indi’s thin pass-rush rotation, while the Falcons would add a high-upside quarterback to compete with Tua Tagovailoa for the primary backup role behind Kirk Cousins.

Neither proposed deal would fetch Indianapolis a marquee superstar, yet both would address the club’s most pressing defensive need. Ballard, who has acknowledged the risk of moving on from a former top-five pick, must decide whether to pull the trigger before the mid-season trade window narrows.

For now, Richardson continues to wear the horseshoe, but every pre-game warmup carries the weight of an uncertain future.