The Jacksonville Jaguars will be going into the draft with clear needs to address. Specifically, the interior defensive line and the pass rush should be their top priorities. On the other hand, the team's brass could also add depth at corner, safety, and the offensive line. The one position that isn't discussed nearly enough but could also use upgrades is the backup quarterback.
One reason it may not be brought up often is that Trevor Lawrence is coming off a banner season and should continue improving under head coach Liam Coen. That said, the Jags could be in trouble if No. 16 goes down with injury.
The next man up is Nick Mullens, a solid yet unspectacular signal-caller who could keep Jacksonville afloat if Lawrence misses a couple of games. But if he were to be unavailable for a long stretch, the Jags could be in trouble. This is why a recent report was a bit shocking but would most definitely make sense.
Jason La Canfora names the Jaguars a trade destination for Anthony Richardson
Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom says that Anthony Richardson isn't garnering much trade interest, pointing out that teams are worried about his potential health risks. In particular, there are concerns about his playing style and his injury history. Here's the skinny.
"The market was flooded with other former first-round picks available for the veteran minimum, working against what was already-limited for Richardson, and some teams are also shying away from health issues," La Canfora wrote. "(Richardson's agent, Deiric Jackson, did not respond to an email request regarding his client's current health situation)."
La Canfora continued, "Richardson has been injured for much of his career and plays an aggressive style that leaves him vulnerable to absorbing heavy hits."
Later in his column, La Canfora discusses potential fits for the fourth-year quarterback and mentions the Jaguars, citing NFL executives who believe "Jacksonville made sense."
Although La Canfora doesn't go into details, it's easy to see why the Jags would be a fit for the fourth overall pick in 2023. As noted before, they would suffer a steep drop-off behind center if Lawrence missed time and Mullens had to be thrust into action.
If healthy (and that's a big if), Richardson would be an upgrade over Mullens, who has a 5-15 record as a starter dating back to 2017, the year the San Francisco 49ers signed him as an undrafted free agent.
After three years with the Niners, Mullens bolted for the Cleveland Browns in 2022. He then spent two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before signing a two-year deal with the Jags in 2025.
Circling back to Richardson, he's yet to have his fifth-year option picked up. The Colts or whichever team trades for him would have until May 1 to either exercise it or decline. If it's the latter, the former Florida Gator would then be eligible for free agency in 2027.
The Jaguars to trade for Anthony Richardson to back up Trevor Lawrence
With the Colts, Richardson has appeared in 17 games with 15 starts, completing 50.6 percent of his throws for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. That's not the kind of production Indy surely envisioned. Couple that with the fact that Daniel Jones is firmly entrenched behind center after signing a two-year contract worth $88 million, and it's easy to see why Richardson was granted permission to seek a trade.
The Jaguars, for their part, should most definitely consider the possibility of trading for Richardson. The issue is that precisely because he comes with injury red flags, they couldn't outright release Nick Mullens and make him QB2.
In Jacksonville, Richardson would need to show that he can stay healthy and compete for a job. If he checks off both boxes, the Jags could then make him the primary backup behind Trevor Lawrence. This begs the question, though.
If the Jags traded for Richardson, what kind of compensation would they have to give up in order to acquire him? Given that he hasn't generated much interest, a sixth or seventh-round selection may be enough to get a deal done.
If the Colts are ready to cut their losses and trade Anthony Richardson for a late-round pick, the Jaguars should most definitely give them a call, as he gives Liam Coen a perfect reclamation project to work with in 2026.