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Eagles Tabbed 'Perfect Trade Fit' For Former Top Draft Pick

The Eagles could look to capitalize on the Colts' misfortunes...
Aug 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Aug 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) in action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best teams in football after taking home the Super Bowl last season. They're off to a quick 4-0 start to the year and might not lose for another few weeks.

But they could still hit the trade market hard in an attempt to separate themselves at the top of football. While there's only a few holes on the team, the Eagles could make a deal or two before the deadline.

FanSided's Christopher Kline recently called the Eagles the top trade fit in a potential deal for Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson was benched in favor of Daniel Jones this year.

Anthony Richardson could be the perfect backup quarterback for Eagles

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardso
Sep 21, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) warms up before the match against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

"That puts Richardson on the trade block. While the former first-round pick is arguably the best athlete in the NFL at quarterback, he's rough around the edges," Kline wrote. "Richardson takes too many sacks and too many chances, often because he doesn't make his progressions in a timely manner. He needs a patient team that can stimulate his development without rushing him into compromised situations.

"Why not the Philadelphia Eagles? He won't start in Philly, of course, but Richardson can learn a lot of Jalen Hurts (and run many of the same plays if Hurts goes down with injury). He gets to spend a year or two with a winner, learn quietly in the shadows, and then put those lessons to use with another team in a few years. Think of it kind of like Daniel Jones spending the end of last season in Minnesota."

On the surface, this idea doesn't make sense at all. The Eagles already have their franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and he's proved that he can lead the team to a Super Bowl. He's still young and developing, so there's no need to add a former top draft pick to replace him.

But the Eagles could afford a backup quarterback who could sit behind Hurts and learn from him. Richardson would benefit tremendously from learning under Hurts.

If the potential trade is very cheap for the Eagles, this could make sense. But it would need to be very cheap, as in a sixth or seventh round pick or late round pick swap.

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. Find him on Twitter/X @zpretzel

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