Colts Grant QB Anthony Richardson Permission to Seek Trade, Vikings Interested

The 23-year-old quarterback has 'mutual interest' in joining the Vikings after falling out of favor in Indianapolis.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Indianapolis Colts have granted quarterback Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade, and the Minnesota Vikings have emerged as a potential landing spot for the former 4th overall pick. Richardson, who has struggled in his first three NFL seasons, has 'mutual interest' in joining the Vikings, whose own young quarterback J.J. McCarthy had an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.

Why it matters

This move could provide a fresh start for Richardson, who has failed to live up to his draft position so far in Indianapolis. The Vikings, meanwhile, are in need of a long-term solution at quarterback after McCarthy's uneven first season as the starter.

The details

Richardson, 23, was selected 4th overall by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft but has completed just 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 15 starts. Last season, he lost the starting job to free agent addition Daniel Jones and suffered a fractured orbital bone during a pregame accident, ending the year on injured reserve.

  • In February 2026, the Colts granted Richardson permission to seek a trade.
  • The Vikings have emerged as a potential trade destination for Richardson.

The players

Anthony Richardson

A 23-year-old quarterback who was drafted 4th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 but has struggled in his first three NFL seasons.

J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings' starting quarterback in 2025 who threw for 1,632 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before suffering multiple injuries that limited him to 10 games.

Chris Ballard

The general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, who indicated that the team still believes in Richardson despite his struggles.

Rob Brzezinski

The executive vice president of football operations for the Minnesota Vikings, who acknowledged the team's need to address the quarterback position this offseason.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm not going to say he needs a complete fresh start. Anthony's still young. He's still developing, so we'll see what the future holds. I still believe in Anthony.”

— Chris Ballard, General Manager, Indianapolis Colts (Indianapolis Star)

“What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective. 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.”

— Rob Brzezinski, Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Minnesota Vikings (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

What’s next

The Vikings will continue to evaluate their options at quarterback, including the potential acquisition of Anthony Richardson via trade from the Colts.

The takeaway

This move represents a crossroads for both Richardson and the Vikings, as they seek to find a long-term solution at the game's most important position. For Richardson, it's a chance to revive his career, while for the Vikings, it's an opportunity to solidify their quarterback room after McCarthy's injury-plagued 2025 season.