The Las Vegas Raiders are going to need a new QB come the 2025 campaign and the franchise making a splash to kick off minority owner Tom Brady's first full year with the organization is a solid bet.
Technically, the Raiders still have a day or so to make a move ahed of the NFL's trade deadline, though that only makes sense if the franchise thinks it can buy low on the QB of the future right now. There is one possibility in this regard, as the Indianapolis Colts have benched second-year signal caller Anthony Richardson in favor of 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco.
Richardson is just 22 years old and was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft as arguably the most athletic quarterback prospect to ever come out of college. Injuries knocked him out of all but four games during his rookie campaign. Meanwhile, a sub-45% completion rate and substituting himself out of a loss against the Houston Texans a couple weeks back because he was "tired" appear to have done Richardson in after just six starts in 2024.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts.
© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
That said, Richardson's ceiling remains arguably as high, or higher, than any of the QBs in the 2025 class. As such, YouTube streamer Matt Downey of Chat Sports named the Raiders among the top landing spots for Richardson last week.
"The Raiders' quarterback room sucks," Downey said, pulling no punches with regards to Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell. "Richardson gives them significantly more upside than what they have, and they wouldn't have to draft a QB."
Downey wondered openly if Luke Getsy makes sense as the offensive coordinator for Richardson, though that is no longer a concern after Las Vegas fired its OC following the team's fifth consecutive loss over the weekend.
Richardson is in just the second season of his four-year, $33.9 million contract, which includes a fifth-year club option in 2027.
