Rams may suddenly revisit shelved trade scenario amid QB chaos

Not long ago, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was a hot topic in trade rumors involving the Los Angeles Rams. Those discussions died down, but the Horns suddenly have a reason to rekindle them. With Jimmy Garoppolo considering retirement, they no longer have a backup plan in free agency to secure a QB2 behind Matthew Stafford. 

Right now, Stetson Bennett is the man. Looking at the draft is one option to obtain an upgrade, but that would mean striking early. A Day 3 pick isn't going to cut it.

If the Rams want higher upside and a more stable floor, swinging a deal for Richardson might be the play.

Richardson is more intriguing Rams trade candidate than ever

A more stable floor, you say? Richardson has 11 career passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Not so hot. 

It's true enough that the former No. 4 draft pick failed as a starter. For the Colts' purposes, Richardson is an unmitigated bust. That said, he has more experience than any rookie and is still an enticing reclamation project. 

His athleticism is undeniable. In his first two seasons, covering 15 starts, he showcased his Lamar-Jackson-like running ability with 635 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. As a runner, Richardson is a weapon.

The arm is the problem. He has to be at least a capable passer to survive in the pros. Last season, the Colts effectively ended the experiment by awarding Daniel Jones the starting job out of training camp and extending him this offseason. Richardson appeared in two games and attempted two passes

He responded to the Jones extension by requesting a trade and hasn't reported to voluntary offseason camp in 2026. With the organization clearly moving on from him as a starter, he should be a buy-low trade candidate. 

Compared to scraping the bottom of the barrel in free agency, trading for Richardson would offer a lot more upside for the Rams. Making a move for the Vikings' J.J. McCarthy, also a former first-round pick, could also be an option. 

Without aggressive drafting, Les Snead must trade for Richardson

Here's the thing. The Rams may draft a quarterback regardless, but they shouldn't expect a late-rounder to come in and outplay Bennett, LA's resident QB3. Relying on the draft alone, their best bet would be trading up to take Ty Simpson early in Round 2. 

The other main option would be Garrett Nussmeier, a projected late third-rounder who could provide an upgrade, if most likely a marginal one, over Bennett. His projected NFL ceiling is that of a backup. Other than that, the Rams would be hard-pressed to draft a Year 1 contributor of any kind. 

Richardson is no guarantee himself, but there's still some promise left in his wheels, and he has NFL reps under his belt. The wild card in the situation is his contract. The receiving team would need to decide by May 1 whether to pick up his $22.5 million fifth-year option in 2027. That's probably a no. Richardson is effectively playing on a one-year deal. 

With those points in mind, the Colts should take what they can get, even if that's only a sixth-round pick. At a buy-low price, rolling the dice on Richardson could be more worthwhile than ever for the Rams.

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