Anthony Richardson entered the 2023 NFL Draft as arguably the most debated prospect in the class. Richardson was described as a "hit or miss" prospect with "sloppy mechanics" and a "high upside," but with that high upside came questions on whether he could be fixed to reach potential. No matter what side of the debate, you were intrigued to see if this athletic freak of nature would pan out. When he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Indy knew they were in for a project. Shane Steichen was supposed to be the quarterback guru who could fix Richardson and build an offense around him capable of bringing out his strengths. Richardson has only played 10 games in his career as he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in his rookie season, which was over after four games, and now he's been benched after six games this season.
Going into 2024, there was hope that Richardson would take a step in his development. As the season progressed, a series of lackluster performances and the weight of expectations started to weigh on Richardson, Steichen, and General Manager Chris Ballard, leading to the Richardson benching. This was not just a setback but a pivotal moment that could set the Colts back a decade and challenge Richardson in ways he never anticipated. Indianapolis has decided to go with 39-year-old Joe Flacco, who will improve the passing game and help the Colts win in the short term.
In the long run, you have to worry about Richardson's development. The numbers are horrific. Through six games this season, Richardson is completing 44.4% of his passes, with four touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 37.4 QBR. It doesn't help that Richardson hasn't had the most help from his weapons outside of Jonathon Taylor, but it doesn't excuse Richardson's lack of development. My problem with the Colts decision to bench their second-year signal caller is that they knew he was a project going into this, and sacrificing the long term to win in the short term, especially when the team is nothing more than a first-round exit, is pointless.
(h/t @NFLonCBS)
Richardson is 22 years old, and the genuine possibility of crushing his confidence when he hasn't even played a full 17 games in his career is a big mistake. Richardson didn't get many reps at Florida, starting only 13 games, and now he is already behind the 8-ball in terms of reps at the NFL level. There's no way you can expect him to develop if you bench him and he doesn't get the on-field reps needed to grow.
The Colts travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings and a Brian Flores-coached defense that has made most of the quarterbacks they've played this season look pedestrian. This speaks to another problem: the leash for NFL general managers and head coaches is shorter than ever. Ballard and Steichen could feel pressure to win now to keep their jobs. It's not just a problem in Indy but throughout the league entirely. Feeling the pressure to win now instead of feeling comfortable to focus on the development of their young players is hurting teams tremendously.
The Colts are now facing a tough dilemma of trying to win while also keeping Richardson's confidence. The Buffalo Bills let Josh Allen work through his mechanics issues, and now look at him. I feel Indy is making a mistake by settling for mediocrity that could keep them in the mid-to-bottom tier of the AFC for years to come.
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