Insider: Vikings, High-Upside QB Have Mutual Interest
Ahead of the 2023 Draft, many Vikings fans were enamored with the idea of bringing athletic freak Anthony Richardson to the Twin Cities. Three years later, that dream could still come true, according to a recent report.
First things first, the Indianapolis Colts, who snagged the passer out of Florida with the 4th overall pick, have reportedly granted their once-promising QB the opportunity to seek a trade.
Stephen Holder, ESPN, wrote Thursday, “The Colts have given quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. permission to seek a trade, his agent told ESPN on Thursday, the latest twist in the young player’s complicated career.”
Richardson entered the league as one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks ever, but he was a raw player coming out. Injuries cost him most of his rookie season and he was briefly benched as a sophomore. In Year 3, he lost a camp battle against Daniel Jones and then suffered a season-ending injury in a freak accident halfway through the season. A fresh start is needed and the QB-needy Vikings could provide that.
In fact, the Vikings were mentioned as a team with “mutual interest,” according to NFL Media’s Cameron Wolfe. He brought up the franchise on social media shortly after reporting the trade news, saying, “One team to keep an eye on trading for Anthony Richardson: Minnesota Vikings. There is mutual interest. Combine is ideal time for these convos to happen.”
In three NFL seasons, Richardson has started 15 of the 17 games he appeared in. The results have been mixed, completing just 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 picks. Much more intriguing is his track record on the ground, as he added another 634 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing.
His game tape includes both frustrating misses and weekly top-ten throws. Any given play has been even more boom-or-bust than Vikings fans have seen from J.J. McCarthy.
That boom was intriguing enough for the Colts to spend a high draft pick on him and it’s why the Vikings will do their due diligence in the upcoming days and weeks. Vikings reporters immediately connected him to their squad, though they all agreed that the timeline might not be perfect.
ESPN’s Vikings writer Kevin Seifert commented, “The Vikings understandably will be connected here, given Kevin O’Connell’s well publicized support of AR in 2024. But everyone should think through the practicality of conducting a reclamation project alongside the (presumed ongoing) development of J.J. McCarthy.”
Here’s the viral clip of Kevin O’Connell chatting with Richardson during the 2024 season. The passer was benched for Joe Flacco days before that game.
Richardson shares many qualities and flaws with McCarthy. They both have inconsistent accuracy and miss simple throws that NFL quarterbacks have to hit. Injuries, too, have played a major role in both careers so far. However, they both have physical tools that can’t be taught. Listed at 6’4″, 244 lbs, Richardson is built like an edge rusher and his arm might be the strongest in the NFL.
Alec Lewis, The Athletic, noted, “The Vikings liked Anthony Richardson coming out. As a backend developmental option, he’d be a perfect project. But the Vikings are primarily targeting a QB with more experience, production, reliability and higher floor.”
He added that the Vikings could do both, trading for Richardson and adding a veteran. Richardson would represent a high-upside lottery ticket, and for the right price, the risk is fairly limited. It can be questioned if he’s the right candidate if the Vikings need to pivot from McCarthy for performance or injury reasons, though.
Another question is the injury he suffered last season. Medical evaluations will likely be a key factor for any interested team. Richardson fractured his orbital bone in warm-ups and it reportedly impacted his vision.
Holder wrote about the issue, “Last season, Richardson sustained a fractured orbital bone in a freak pregame warmup incident. That injury left Richardson on injured reserve, where he finished the season. Richardson, who is still just 23, had his vision impacted by the injury. But recent consultations with doctors indicate his vision has been restored, [his agent] said. One physician noted his vision in a recent test to be 20/20 when using both eyes.”
It’s reasonable to expect the Vikings to ask some questions about the eyesight, but also to ask the Colts for his price.
Ultimately, the reported mutual interest does not guarantee a deal, but it does confirm that the Vikings are exploring every possible quarterback avenue this offseason. With J.J. McCarthy still viewed as part of the long-term plan, any move for Richardson would likely be about upside rather than an immediate franchise reset. For a team searching for both stability and long-term potential at quarterback, monitoring a high-ceiling reclamation project at the right price could make strategic sense — even if a trade remains far from certain.
The passer will turn 24 in May.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.