The Green Bay Packers struck an elite bargain when they traded a seventh-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis, and a similar opportunity has just presented itself on the proverbial eve of Willis’s free agency.
Reporters and analysts around the NFL have come to a general consensus that Willis is the top free agent on the market in 2026 after two strong years as Jordan Love’s backup QB. Now, the Indianapolis Colts have granted the former No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft the right to seek a trade as the new league year approaches on March 11.
“NEWS: The Indianapolis Colts have given QB Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade given his uncertain future in Indy, ESPN has learned,” Stephen Holder reported via X on Thursday, February 26.
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Richardson won’t be as cheap as Willis was, but he is similar in several ways. Things didn’t pan out for the QB in Indianapolis after appearing in only 24 total games in college and logging just 13 starts before joining the professional ranks.
He is now officially a reclamation project entering the final year of $34 million rookie deal and in need of a new locker room and new head coach to help reinvigorate what is an elite athletic ceiling in terms of arm strength and rushing talent.
A move to Green Bay and a welcoming fan base, with reduced pressure as the No. 2 QB behind Love and chance to learn under one of the best offensive minds in the NFL in Matt LaFleur could prove the perfect outcome for Richardson. And his dual-threat game is similar to that of Willis’s, which the Packers already know works for them as an alternative when Love is unable to play.
Richardson has tallied 2,400 passing yards to go along with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 17 career appearances for the Colts (8-7 as the starter). He has also rushed the football for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Willis cost Green Bay a seventh-round pick. Richardson is more likely to cost a mid-rounder in trade. However, his actual financial price isn’t exorbitant. He has a $1.15 million base salary in 2026 and is also due a $4.25 million roster bonus.
The Packers would inherit a fifth-year team option on Richardson for the price of $23.5 million in 2027 were they to trade for him, but Green Bay doesn’t have to pick that up and can simply let it lapse after May 1.
Paying $5.5 million and a late Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick might not be worth it to the Packers for a quarterback who, despite his talent, would be a backup in 2026 and likely a free agent in 2027 — especially after dealing two first-rounders for Micah Parsons last August, which has depleted the top end of the team’s draft stores.
That said, Green Bay is looking for its fourth consecutive playoff berth with Love as the starter, and Willis played a meaningful role in the last two runs.
He appeared in across his two seasons with the Packers and started three of them. In a highly competitive NFC North Division, a backup QB with Richardson’s talent could end up the difference between playing in mid-January or watching the postseason from home.
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