Anthony Richardson and the Vikings are eyeing each other.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported Thursday that the 23-year-old quarterback and the Colts have mutually agreed to seek a trade, and Minnesota is already knocking as it looks to add to its QB room alongside J.J. McCarthy.
Richardson, who has fallen out of favor in Indianapolis since being drafted No. 4 overall in 2023, has “mutual interest” in a new start with the Vikings, per Wolfe.
The Colts reportedly granted Richardson permission to seek a trade despite last season’s starter, Daniel Jones, coming off an Achilles tear and set to enter free agency.
Richardson has had a turbulent three seasons in the NFL, completing just 50.6 percent of his passes for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 15 starts.
Last season, after losing the starting job to free agent addition Jones, Richardson suffered a fractured orbital bone during a pregame accident and ended the season on injured reserve.
Earlier this week, Colts general manager Chris Ballard seemed to indicate the end could be near for Richardson in Indianapolis.
“I’m not going to say he needs a complete fresh start,” Ballard said at the NFL combine. “Anthony’s still young. He’s still developing, so we’ll see what the future holds. I still believe in Anthony.”
On the other hand, the Vikings’ quarterback situation is a bit of a mess as well.
After letting the now Super Bowl champion signal-caller Sam Darnold walk in free agency, Minnesota handed the reins over to J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected No. 10 overall in 2024.
It didn’t go quite as planned.
McCarthy threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first season as the Vikings’ starter.
He was limited to just 10 games after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2, and later a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand.
The Vikings went 9-8 and missed the playoffs, one year after going 14-3 with Darnold in tow.
Minnesota executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski indicated earlier this week that quarterback would be a focus for the team this offseason.
“What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective,” Brzezinski said. “A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate [situations] with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things.
“There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”
