When the Indianapolis Colts drafted Florida Gators QB Anthony Richardson fourth overall, there was relief in Indiana but also uneasiness as the “here we go again” mentality resurfaced. This time, though, the season seems different. Since Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement two weeks before their 2019 regular season opener, the Colts have had several stints with veteran QBs and while veteran presence and leadership are good intangibles to have on a team, they do not prepare a franchise for QB security going forward. This has been the fundamental issue that Colts GM Chris Ballard and owner Jim Irsay have been trying to secure for the last four seasons. Who is that next guy that can be the long term solution at QB? 

All roads point to rookie QB Anthony Richardson being that long term solution and for the first time since drafting Andrew Luck in 2012, the Colts have a young QB who has all the potential to develop into an MVP caliber player. 

Here are three things that the Colts must do in order to set Richardson up for success: 

BE PATIENT

The Colts must be patient and continue to work with Richardson and let him develop. They also have to recognize that Anthony Richardson is not going to be the second coming of Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck. He is a twenty-one year old rookie QB who only has thirteen career college starts. His sample size is small and therefore, the mystery surrounding Richardson is great. All the analytics, measurements, and data suggest that Richardson has the potential to be great, but how long will it take for that potential to generate? The Colts will not be able to answer that as they will have to wait and see what happens

GIVE HIM HELP

This is one of the more obvious points as it is few and far between that we find successful QBs that did not also have high level support around them, literally. Without a good offensive line, an offense cannot operate at all. If the Colts want to set Richardson up for success, they must get this offensive line in check. In the 2022 season, the highest paid offensive line gave up 60 sacks with pro bowl G, Quentin Nelson still on the roster, not to mention C Ryan Kelly and T Braden Smith. If the Colts cannot improve their offensive line woes and protect Anthony Richardson, then his stint in the NFL will be cut short as he will struggle mightily every week. Even GM, Chris Ballard has stated on numerous occasions about how important an offensive line is to a QB and the team as a whole, so if the Colts cannot get this right, then they have more problems on their hand than preparing a rookie starter.

START RICHARDSON IN GAME ONE

For a young QB who only has thirteen career college starts, the Colts must give Richardson game reps in order for him to have success in this league. The Colts season opener is at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are coming off a very impressive 2022 season with a QB in Trevor Lawrence who has (for now) silenced his critics. This opening game will be a tough one for the Colts and for Richardson, if he is named the starter. However, tough matchups should not deter the Colts from helping Richardson succeed in this league. Sitting on the sidelines with a clipboard and headset is not what Richardson needs. Bottom line, he needs game time reps and a team that will be patient with him as he struggles… and Richardson will struggle. Nonetheless, the process to success is not a quick one; it never has been. The process to success requires failure and struggles. The Colts need to be willing to ride and die with Richardson through the process ahead.