As trade talks surrounding quarterback Anthony Richardson appear to remain stalled, ESPN’s Indianapolis Colts reporter Stephen Holder recently mentioned an important date a few months from now that could help facilitate a trade.
As Holder notes, any team trading for Richardson prior to Aug. 1 would have to pay him $5.385 million for the 2026 season. That figure would be among the higher contract values for a backup.
However, if a deal is done after Aug. 1, the amount the new team would owe him drops significantly.
“Any team that trades for Richardson before Aug. 1 would pay him $5.385 million for 2026,” Holder wrote. “But if he’s dealt after his Aug. 1 roster bonus is paid, the amount he’s owed drops to $1.145 million.”
Although Richardson requested a trade back in late February at the NFL combine, his market never really developed. In Adam Schefter’s words earlier this offseason, Richardson’s market was “soft.”
That said, at a much reduced contract value, perhaps a team may be more willing to take a swing on bringing Richardson in.
For the time being, Richardson remains with the Colts and has been participating in offseason workout programs, potentially competing with Riley Leonard for the backup role.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Potentially important date for Colts in Anthony Richardson trade talks
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
