The Jacksonville Jaguars could use depth at quarterback. While Trevor Lawrence keeps reminding everyone that he's going to set the NFL on fire next season, the Jags could be in trouble if he misses extended playing time. Granted, nearly every team would suffer if they lost their starting signal-caller, but the truth is that Nick Mullens doesn't inspire much confidence as QB2 in Duval.
The trouble is that the demand for quarterbacks in the NFL exceeds the supply, so the only way for Jacksonville to add reinforcements behind center would probably be via trade. At this point, the best options may reside in the AFC South: The Tennessee Titans appear to be ready to move on from Will Levi, while the Indianapolis Colts could trade Anthony Richardson.
Richardson, in particular, was a first-round pick who failed to live up to expectations in Indy. He's already tumbled down the depth chart and may be better off getting a fresh start somewhere else. But based on his performance in the season opener, the Jags may have second thoughts about trading for him.
Anthony Richardson was a mixed bag in the preseason opener
Let's be very clear from the get-go. There are no reports of the Jaguars planning to trade for a quarterback, let alone Anthony Richardson. That said, the former Florida Gator requested a trade earlier this year, but ultimately stayed with the Colts. He got plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent in Week 1 of the preseason but was uninspiring.
Richardson went 11-of-14 for 145 yards, one touchdown, one fumble, and one interception. He also racked up 53 rushing yards, so he wasn't necessarily dreadful. On the other hand, he has his work cut out, and it's hard to tell if the Jaguars would want to take on a quarterback who is a reclamation project at this point of his career but is also entering a contract year.
Maybe if Jacksonville had traded for Richardson in the offseason, he would have had plenty of time to hone his skills and get a good grasp of the playbook. But with the regular season inching closer, he would have to learn on the fly.
Anthony Richardson gives the Jaguars something to ponder
If the Jaguars signed him now, it would be with a long-term view in mind. He could stick around in 2026 with the expectation that he would be the backup next year. Then again, the team's brass may be better off waiting until free agency to target a veteran signal-caller. Nick Mullens is slated to hit the open market in 2027, and it would be a good idea to give the quarterback room a boost.
On the other hand, Richardson is most definitely worth taking a flyer on. The issue is that other teams may want to trade for him — he may cost a sixth or seventh-round selection — rather than risk missing out on him in the waiver wire.
The truth is that acquiring Anthony Richardson comes with lots of pros and cons, so it would be up to the Jaguars to decide whether they want to bet on him.
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