The biggest question facing the 2025 Indianapolis Colts unsurprisingly turns out to be their biggest offseason priority via NFL.com.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the biggest question facing the 2025 Indianapolis Colts is now their biggest offseason priority via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra:
Indianapolis Colts
Top priority: Find a winner in the QB battle.
The competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones continues to garner plenty of attention in Indy this offseason. Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, hasn’t played well enough to lock down the gig. His draft status and raw talent give him one more shot at keeping the starting job. The mere presence of the former Giants first-rounder puts heat on Richardson. Jones isn’t a franchise-altering option, but he does give Shane Steichen a viable choice should Richardson tank — at least Jones has been to the playoffs. The Colts are hoping pressure finally turns Richardson into a diamond. If it doesn’t, Indy could decide to see what Jones can do.
At least publicly, the Colts have indicated that this will be an open offseason quarterback competition between the incumbent, 3rd-year pro Anthony Richardson, and the top challenger, veteran free agent signee Daniel Jones during training camp and preseason.
Given that the Colts spent $14 million to best the Minnesota Vikings for Jones, the former franchise quarterback hopeful castoff of the New York Giants, and it seems like Indianapolis is backing that up by paying him more than just average NFL backup money.
While a tie probably goes to Richardson, and really that has to be who the Colts ideally have to hope wins it—albeit on the merits, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Jones get the nod, especially if Indy is looking for the most consistency between the pair this offseason.
While neither quarterback will be mistaken for Peyton Manning anytime soon in the pocket, Jones probably gets the nod from at least an accuracy and completion standpoint over the work-in-progress Richardson, which will be noticeable in simulated training camp practices.
That being said, the 23-year-old Richardson, who’s one of the best athletes to play the QB position in recent memory, has sky-high upside—that is, if it all actually clicks on the field.
After his initial ‘sophomore slump’ and subsequent two-game benching, Richardson showed some real growth down the 2024 season’s final stretch both on and (reportedly) off the field (the former including on some 4th quarter winning drives) before missing the team’s last two games because of injuries.
Like Jones, Richardson struggles with availability, consistency, and turnovers. However, they’re both dual-threat options behind center, meaning Colts head coach Shane Steichen won’t have to change the offensive playbook and scheme much, if at all, between the two (potentially underwhelming) quarterback options for next season.
Should he falter at beating out Jones, and heads atop the Colts football operations department could vert well roll, as whiffing on the 4th overall pick of any NFL Draft, let alone the 3rd straight failed attempt at Indy’s starting quarterback shouldn’t be taken lightly by any of the three Irsay daughters—whether it’s ultimately an individual or family decision.
However, as the legendary, late John Madden once infamously stated, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none,” meaning are the 2025 Indianapolis Colts already sunk before the regular season has even started?