Colts QB Depth Chart: Anthony Richardson Gives Hope for the Future
The Indianapolis Colts' quarterback depth chart has been in disarray going into every offseason since the early retirement of Andrew Luck. For the first time in years, the 2024 offseason appears to have some answers at the position (at least at the top of the depth chart).
The Colts spent the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Florida QB Anthony Richardson. Richardson immediately worked his way into becoming the team's starter, and the early returns on his play were quite promising. In a little over 10 quarters of playing time, Richardson accumulated 713 yards of offense along with seven touchdowns and just two turnovers.
Unfortunately due to a shoulder injury (and a concussion suffered in week two), Richardson was limited to just starting four games in the 2023 season. His replacement, veteran Gardner Minshew, filled in admirably for a team that nearly made it into the postseason. Minshew totaled 3,405 yards and 18 touchdowns with 14 turnovers in 13 starts (17 appearances) this past season.
Despite the injuries to Richardson, the Colts have to feel happy with what they saw in the young passer and that glimmer of hope gives the Colts the best outlook they have had at the quarterback position going into an offseason in quite some time. With that being said, let's take a big step back and analyze this quarterback room prior to the start of the 2024 offseason to see if there is still work to be done for next season.
Quarterbacks Under Contract
Starter: Anthony Richardson (3+1 years remaining on contract)
It is way too soon for Colts' fans or management to be worried about Anthony Richardson's contract. The 2023 rookie still has three years remaining on his rookie deal, and that could extend into a fourth season if the Colts decide to pick up his fifth year option. Again, those conversations are a future problem in relation to this offseason.
Richardson enters this offseason as the undisputed starter in the room, and nothing that the team does from now until opening day should change that. The Colts are fully committed to their young passer, and he has shown enough on the football field to have the faith of the entire organization behind him.
He has some room to improve overall, especially when it comes to protecting himself on the field and adjusting to the speed of the NFL game, but the sky is truly the limit for him in this Colts' offense. The Colts have their quarterback locked in and we should be able to see this exciting young passer back on the field in time for training camp in the summer.
Depth: Sam Ehlinger (1 year remaining on contract)
Former sixth round selection Sam Ehlinger is the only other quarterback currently under contract with the Colts. Ehlinger appeared in just a handful of snaps this past season, as he served as the team's third string option going into the year and then as the primary backup once Richardson went down with his shoulder injury.
Ehlinger is unlikely to challenge for the Colts' primary backup job, as the team views him mostly as an insurance arm to have in a pinch. His role on the team isn't completely necessary, but there is no reason for the Colts to move off of this cheap option at this point in the offseason.
Ehlinger will do what he always does this upcoming season. He'll settle in as the team's third string quarterback, be on the roster bubble after a strong preseason, and then (likely) make the roster as a reserve passer. He has churned out a nice little career thus far following this exact path every offseason.
Quarterbacks with Expiring Contract
Gardner Minshew (UFA)
The Colts' primary starter from this past season is set to become a free agent in March. Minshew did some impressive things with the Colts, leading the team to a 7-6 record in his 13 starts and getting them within a few yards of making it into the postseason. The offense was obviously limited with him in the game, but he mostly kept things operational in Richardson's absence.
The main conversation piece with bringing Minshew back becomes price tag. The Colts were able to sign him last offseason to a one year, 3.5 million dollar deal (with incentives on top of it). That is a fairly cheap contract even for a backup quarterback, so there is some reason to believe that Minshew will get a slight bump up in pay on the open market.
Is Minshew's play as a backup worth a raise this offseason or should the team look for a different option to replace him? That is the big question that the Colts have to sort out heading into free agency/the draft.
Backup Option in Free Agency
Tyrod Taylor (New York Giants UFA)
The Colts could transition to another quarterback with a lot of ties to the coaching staff in veteran Tyrod Taylor. Taylor, 34, is a former Pro Bowl quarterback (admittedly I use that term loosely) that has started nearly 60 games in his NFL career. He started five games for the Giants in 2023, where he totaled 1,538 yards of offense and five touchdowns with three turnovers.
Taylor has a ton of overlap with the Colts' offensive coaching staff in his career. He was the starting quarterback for the Chargers when Shane Steichen was the offensive coordinator in L.A. and he played under both DeAndre Smith (RB Coach) and Tony Sparano Jr. (OL Coach) in New York last season. Taylor would bring the Colts a veteran player with a mobile game that the coaching staff can trust in free agency.
Tyler Huntley (Baltimore Ravens UFA)
Another mobile option in free agency could be Baltimore's Tyler Huntley. Huntley is still a young player that also has a Pro Bowl selection under his belt (using this term very very loose now). He has filled in admirably for two-time MVP Lamar Jackson over the years, totaling 2,466 yards and 11 touchdowns with 10 turnovers in nine career starts.
Huntley would likely be a downgrade from Minshew from an operational standpoint, but he could run a similar style of offense that Richardson was running prior to his injury. The Colts could look to pair their next backup to the mobile style that Richardson deploys, which would make Huntley one of the better options available in free agency.
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