Holy smokes, did you hear this one? Anthony Richardson, the guy the Colts dropped the fourth overall pick on back in the 2023 NFL draft, just got named their *No. 2 quarterback*. Yeah, QB2! Talk about a gut punch for a player with that kind of draft capital, right? It’s a total head-scratcher and a far cry from the starter everyone, especially the Colts faithful, envisioned when they made that huge investment.
The Harsh Reality of a High Draft Pick
You always expect a top-five pick, especially a QB, to be lighting it up, not fighting for the backup spot. But let’s be real, the stats for Richardson haven’t exactly screamed franchise cornerstone. As he rolls into his fourth and, gulp, *final* season of his rookie contract, the numbers are just brutal. He’s started a measly 15 games. His completion percentage? A flat 50.6 percent. And the touchdown-to-interception ratio is upside down: 11 touchdowns thrown to 13 picks. That’s just not gonna cut it, plain and simple. It’s a stark reminder that even the highest draft picks aren’t guaranteed success, and the Colts are seeing that play out right now. He barely beat out Riley Leonard just to be Daniel Jones’ backup. You gotta wonder what kind of message that sends to the locker room.
“Honored” to Be Second String?
And get this, Richardson is actually *happy* about it. He told reporters he was “honored” by the new role. An *honor*? For a guy picked fourth overall to be named backup? He even said he’s “blessed to continue to find a way to lead, continue to find my way on the roster.” And here’s the real kicker, he’s “thankful they believe in me enough to promote me to QB2.” What does that tell you about how low the bar has dropped for this guy? It’s like he’s just relieved to not be QB3. The article points out he’s “trying to see the positive in being second string instead of third string.” Man, that’s a tough look. It speaks volumes about the pressure, the struggles, and the complete reset of expectations for a player who was supposed to be the future. It’s almost sad to hear him express gratitude for essentially salvaging a spot on the depth chart.
A Contract Year Crossroads
So, with his rookie contract ticking down to its final season, this is it for Anthony Richardson. He says he’s “ready to work” and “willing to work with the team and provide my best self for this squad and help us win.” But “best self” as a backup isn’t what the Colts paid for. This season isn’t just about being a good teammate, it’s about proving he has *any* kind of future as a starting quarterback in this league, or even a reliable backup after this year. The spotlight isn’t going away, and every snap, every practice, will be under the microscope. For a guy who had so much promise, this year feels like a do-or-die situation. He’s gotta turn it around, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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