NFL Rumors heat up over Rams interest in trading for Colts QB Anthony Richardson

If you believe that Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead will use a 2026 NFL Draft pick to select a quarterback, you may be correct. But if you believe that the quarterback will be a rookie, you may be disappointed. Snead is clever and resourceful, and has proven to value veterans over rookies when the team is in all-in mode.

Right now, all in is the name of the game.

While rhetoric from general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay suggests that veteran Jimmy Garoppolo has the pole position for backing up quarterback Matthew Stafford, LA has other options as well. Right now, NFL rumors link the Rams among multiple teams that have checked in with the Indianapolis Colts over quarterback Anthony Richardson.

And the price is right, a late Day 3 draft pick.

While fans may not be moved at the prospect of trading for a tarnished veteran quarterback, Los Angeles has several reasons to weigh Richardson slowly and carefully. LA has yet to commit to a third quarterback. And the 2025 experience indicated just how fragile Stafford can be.

He missed all of training camp, then had an MVP season.

Gambling on Anthony Richardson could pay off big dividends

For the cost of a Round 6 or 7 pick, the LA Rams could add a once-promising quarterback with a cannon for an arm, and desperation to do well in the NFL for some team. Needless to say, LA's track record with Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz, and even Jimmy Garoppolo raises expectations that even Richardson could regain his luster.

The Horns have several reasons to explore adding the Colts quarterback. If for no other reason than upgrading him from a castaway to a desired NFL quarterback once more. After all, NFL teams love to poach coaches from Los Angeles, so why not leverage that value into a quarterback as well?

But the second reason is the fact that he could be an easy flip. That is, a Round 6 pick today could be traded for a Round 4 pick in a trade or even as a future compensatory pick. All that needs to happen is for the coaching staff to coach him up and place him on display in preseason games.

And then, let the scarcity of quality experienced quarterbacks drive up the price.

But the most obvious reason is to test the waters on a future franchise quarterback. Unless the team is sold that Stetson Bennett is the guy for the job, the time to audition quality candidates is running out. No matter how much favor Jimmy Garoppolo has found in the coach's eyes, he is merely a year or two bridge for the offense.

Richardson is just 23 years old, 11 years Jimmy G's junior. In fact, he is five years younger than Stetson Bennett. And he already has 15 NFL starts. That's something The Horns have to weigh heavily.

2026 is a hybrid type of season. Even now, the boon of drafting well in 2023 and 2024 is going to come due with bigger paychecks. But the team is oh-so-close to winning a Super Bowl that Les Snead is going to push extensions as far into the future as possible.

Will he defer the decision to find a Matthew Stafford successor? He may. But it would be a shame to pass over a stellar opportunity when it arises.

As always, thanks for reading.