Jim Irsay may have dropped a bombshell when it comes to who will be the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback heading into Week 1.
Anthony Richardson is the future under center for the Indianapolis Colts, but even their owner Jim Irsay knows how tough of a climb it will be for the No. 4 overall pick out of Florida.
Of the three quarterbacks who went in the top four picks last spring, Richardson has the highest ceiling. Conversely, he has the lowest floor as a draft prospect. He could be Cam Newton, or he could be a lesser version of Vince Young. Either way, the Colts made a savvy signing by adding Gardner Minshew. He comes over from Philadelphia with their new head coach Shane Steichen.
While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Irsay noted how rough of a first year it was for Peyton Manning in Indianapolis in 1998. Manning had so much starting experience in the SEC over at Tennessee. Richardson only was the starter at Florida for a year and change on a team that wasn't even all that good to begin with. Regardless, he might be thrust into the fire right away.
This may be a bit of a rebuilding year for the Colts, but they may just have to rip the band-aid off.
Jim Irsay says Anthony Richardson could start Week 1 for his Indianapolis Colts
Of course, this will be entirely Steichen's decision. He might be a first-time head coach and an offensive-minded one at that, but his long-term job security will be tied to how well Richardson plays, not Minshew. While we should expect for Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud to start sooner rather than later in Carolina and Houston respectively, Richardson may have to bide his time for a minute.
Again, Richardson is about as raw as they come at quarterback. It feels like we get to watch Josh Allen's rookie season all over again with the 2018 Buffalo Bills. While that was a rough first year for him too out of Wyoming, by midway through his second season in Orchard Park, Allen was well on his way towards becoming a superstar in the league. That is what the Colts are hoping for here.
Overall, it does serve the Colts to find out what they have in Richardson sooner rather than later. We know that Minshew is a capable, stop-gap starter, but you are not building your franchise around him. He is a Case Keenum, Baker Mayfield-type of quarterback at this stage of the game. But if the Colts have the next Josh Allen straight chilling on their bench, they will have to play him.
Ultimately, the Colts are not winning their first division title since 2014 this season anyway. It is the Jacksonville Jaguars' division to lose with Trevor Lawrence now entering year two under Doug Pederson's guidance. While the Tennessee Titans are trending down, the Houston Texans just drafted Stroud. The last thing the Colts want is for the Texans to get ahead of them in the division.
It may not be in Week 1, but look for Richardson to start more games than Minshew this season.
