The Green Bay Packers are a paragon for quarterback stability and development at the position. From Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now to Jordan Love, the passing of the torch between that trio was pretty much seamless.
As Love battled through various injuries over the last two years, Malik Willis made the most of his opportunities and is now the Miami Dolphins' starting QB. Willis was left for dead by the Titans, who pawned him off to Green Bay for a seventh-round pick.
Another electrifying, dual-threat field general who's seeking a fresh start could very well be the Packers' next successful QB project to add to a room with Love and Tyrod Taylor.
ESPN trade scenario prompts Packers to make a deal for Colts QB Anthony Richardson
Jeremy Fowler was part of a massive panel of ESPN NFL personalities who debated the viability of tradeable players, and floated Anthony Richardson to Green Bay as a possibility.
Although the panel agreed in the end that Richardson's most likely landing spot was the NFC North rival Vikings, on account of their fifth-round offering being higher since their 2026 record will likely be worse, here's Fowler's write-up on the Indianapolis Colts signal-caller:
"Why this deal makes sense: Richardson wants to be in a variation of the McVay-Shanahan-LaFleur system and took notice of what Packers coach Matt LaFleur did with Malik Willis. Green Bay signed Tyrod Taylor earlier this month but at a modest $2.5 million. With this trade, Indianapolis adds much-needed draft capital and moves forward with Riley Leonard as its No. 2 quarterback. And Green Bay asks Indy to cover a portion of Richardson's $5.4 million in 2026 guarantees."
As the article mentions, Richardson submitted a trade request in February, and there were evidently no takers throughout free agency and the draft process.
I'm not afraid to say that Richardson was my QB1 in the 2024 draft. He was the fourth overall pick, after all. It's not as if he's lacking in talent! C.J. Stroud hasn't really taken the next step after his outstanding rookie season, and Bryce Young's ceiling is so low that he's praised for leading an 8-9 division champion to the playoffs.
Richardson started off pretty strong in his maiden pro campaign, but a major shoulder injury, and the subsequent rehab that didn't allow him to work on lingering mechanical issues, seemed to shake his confidence. Plus, he admitted to not understanding what it took to be a franchise QB early on in terms of preparation. When you only start for one year at the University of Florida, in the most gimmicky of gimmicky of offenses under since-fired coach Billy Napier, that's bound to happen.
People forget, though, that Richardson was contending with Daniel Jones for the Colts' QB1 job all the way through the preseason last year. Jones won out and played at an MVP-caliber level before a fractured leg and torn Achilles derailed his season early.
What could've been an opportunity for Richardson to showcase himself instead fell by the wayside when a freak training accident saddled him with a fractured orbital bone around his eye.
If Richardson was able to give Danny Dimes a run for his money in a legit QB derby, maybe he's made more progress behind the scenes than meets the eye. It's not like the Colts are some bastion of steady QB development. They've been reeling at the position since Andrew Luck's sudden retirement.
Between his elite rushing ability, excellent sack avoidance, and even modest improvements to his mechanics/accuracy, Richardson has a lot of upside to still work with. What better team than the Packers to get it out of him?
Having a true veteran mentor like Taylor would be invaluable to Richardson. Plus, Matt LaFleur could sprinkle in some packages plays for Richardson on designed QB runs. He did that so well when Willis was in the lineup, and Richardson is just as explosive as him, if not more so.
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