The Indianapolis Colts' star player Anthony Richardson might have requested a trade, but he is not letting it hinder his preparation for the new season as he continues to attend the team's Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Amid all the rumors, the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears have emerged as potential landing spots for Anthony Richardson.
Which teams are interested in Anthony Richardson?
Ever since Anthony Richardson requested a trade in February 2026, several rival teams have been linked to him. According to NFL insiders, the Minnesota Vikings, the Chicago Bears, and the Green Bay Packers have been reportedly eyeing the quarterback.
What are insiders saying about the trade rumors?
A few days ago, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano predicted that the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears could be making a move for Anthony Richardson. They noted in a recent report: "Richardson can come to the Kevin O'Connell school of quarterbacks and learn behind another mobile QB in Kyler Murray, who is on just a one-year contract with Minnesota. Richardson's deal expires in 2027, too, but his acquisition would give the Vikings more options going forward. In this scenario, the Vikings could keep both Richardson and J.J. McCarthy (though that's a pretty risky backup room) or deal the latter in another trade. For Indianapolis, it can land a little draft capital now in exchange for a third-string quarterback."
Fowler and Graziano added: "I don't see anyone giving up a pick for Richardson at the moment. The Bears dangled Bagent in trade offers earlier this offseason, and here he likely gives the Colts a better backup option than Leonard. Richardson gets to learn from Bears coach Ben Johnson and maybe show enough in the preseason that he becomes appealing to another team in trade. Heck, maybe Johnson has some ideas for how to use him in a package or two. The Bears still have Case Keenum behind Caleb Williams as a veteran backup."
Contract details and salary cap implications
Anthony Richardson is currently in the final year of his $33.9 million rookie deal with the Colts. Trading Richardson before August 1st would free up $5.39 million in salary cap space for the Colts, but the team would carry $5.43 million from his prorated signing bonus.
How could the trade impact the teams?
For the Indianapolis Colts, trading Anthony Richardson would shift focus to Daniel Jones for the upcoming season, freeing up $5.39 million to sign other players. For the Minnesota Vikings, acquiring Richardson would provide a reliable backup quarterback to support Kyler Murray, fitting comfortably within the team's budget. For the Chicago Bears, spending a draft pick on Richardson leaves fewer options to fix their offensive line but adds a strong backup player.
