The Indianapolis Colts should have zero perception that Anthony Richardson is able to being a beginning quarterback within the NFL. That’s the solely logical conclusion one can draw from their choice to go together with Daniel Jones as their beginning quarterback for the 2025 season, whereas additionally giving him a prolonged leash to play by way of.
It isn’t solely nonsensical, however it units the stage for what could possibly be a very wasted season of soccer the place they don’t get something from it.
Whether or not the Colts determined to go together with Jones or Richardson, their ceiling was unlikely to vary.
They don’t seem to be a Tremendous Bowl-contending workforce, they usually could not even be a playoff workforce. The Colts have a really flawed roster that’s in all probability greater than only one quarterback away. However that is a part of the rationale why it might have at the very least made sense to provide Richardson another run at it.
Whereas the early a part of his profession has been crammed with accidents and inconsistency, he’s nonetheless a participant they used a No. 4 total choose on.
He’s additionally a participant who continues to be filled with expertise, a giant arm and — in concept — a variety of potential.
He’s in a variety of methods nonetheless a thriller and one thing of an unknown as an NFL participant. He is performed solely 15 video games, thrown simply 348 passes and continues to be 23 years previous. There may be nonetheless one thing there {that a} workforce can dream on. It might make sense to attempt to see if he can determine it out on condition that unknown potential and upside.
Jones, then again, is the exact opposite in each method.
He’s a principally identified commodity within the NFL. He has appeared in 70 regular-season video games and thrown 2,241 passes, and he’s going to be 28 years previous when the season begins. There aren’t any secrets and techniques right here. All people is aware of what he’s: veteran mediocrity. Certain, there’s a likelihood he may observe the trail of Geno Smith and eventually put issues collectively and change into an above-average starter after washing out with the New York Giants. However these forms of success tales are the exception and never the rule. After six years and practically 2,500 passes within the NFL you begin to get a way for what a quarterback is and what they’ll do.
Jones has proven everyone who and what he’s as an NFL beginning quarterback: not ok.
What are the Colts hoping to perform right here?
Possibly Jones is a marginal improve over Richardson proper now. However is he sufficient of an improve to take them from a mid-level, common workforce to a playoff workforce or a contender? Not going. Not in a stacked AFC.
As a result of Richardson’s upside, if he can attain it, he may even have the power to try this.
That alone ought to have been the motivation to provide him another run at it.
If he washes out, then you definitely may know for certain that he’s not your reply and that you want to significantly take a look at the place once more in 2026. The season may not go properly, however it at the very least would not be a waste.
Proper now, the Colts simply appear to be hoping that Jones can get them to a different eight- or nine-win season that retains them squarely in the course of the NFL standings. No one needs to see that. No one needs to observe that.
They need to have at the very least given Richardson another swing at it. Now they’ve just about already written him off as a possible choice with out ever actually understanding for certain if he may do the job or attain his potential.
