Colts GM Discusses Anthony Richardson Trade Requests

Ballard says team has had talks with other teams, but no deal yet for disgruntled QB.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue and white colors representing the Colts' uniform.The Colts' quarterback situation remains in flux as they explore trade options for Anthony Richardson.Indianapolis Today

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard acknowledged that quarterback Anthony Richardson has requested a trade, but said the team has had discussions with other teams and will see how the situation plays out over the next month. Ballard praised Richardson's development and growth, but noted the young QB has faced 'bad freaking luck' in his time with the Colts so far.

Why it matters

Richardson was expected to be the Colts' starting QB, but injuries and the emergence of Daniel Jones last season closed that door. The Colts may be open to trading Richardson, but finding the right fit and deal could be challenging with many teams having already addressed their QB needs in the offseason.

The details

Richardson, the Colts' 2023 first-round draft pick, requested a trade earlier this year as he looks for a better opportunity to play and start. Ballard said the team has had discussions with other teams about a potential trade, but nothing has materialized yet. The GM praised Richardson's development and growth, but acknowledged the young QB has faced bad luck during his time in Indianapolis so far.

  • Richardson requested a trade earlier this year.

The players

Chris Ballard

The general manager of the Indianapolis Colts.

Anthony Richardson

The Colts' 2023 first-round draft pick at quarterback, who has requested a trade from the team.

Daniel Jones

The Colts' starting quarterback last season, whose emergence has limited Richardson's playing time.

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What they’re saying

“We'll see how it works out here over time. We've had some discussions with teams. Nothing's come to fruition at this point. I'm proud of his development, his growth. He's had some bad freaking luck. We've seen it in this league, sometimes thing don't work out one place and they become good at the next. We'll see here over the next month how that ends up working out with Anthony.”

— Chris Ballard, General Manager, Indianapolis Colts

What’s next

The Colts will continue to explore trade options for Anthony Richardson over the next month, as they look to find the best fit and deal for the young quarterback.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges young quarterbacks can face when expectations and opportunities don't align, and the difficult decisions teams must make in balancing player development with on-field performance.