The Indianapolis Colts are knee deep in the NFL’s fourth longest playoff drought and searching for answers. This search lead them to draft Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023. Richardson’s big frame and bigger arm made him a project worth investing in. Now three seasons into the ride, some Colts fans want off.
Enter Daniel Jones. Similarly to Richardson, Jones was the sixth overall draft pick in a light quarterback class. His first destination had it’s share of highs and lows and now Jones is on the move for the first time in his career.
An injury to Richardson in the second week of OTAs meant that Jones has spent the better half of the last month running with the ones at various different football related activities. ESPN’s Mina Kimes says when Jones is under center, the difference is palpable.
“The Colts are having one of the few true quarterback competitions this offseason,” Kimes said on The Mina Kimes Show. “This is a good bar for Richardson to clear, if he can’t clear it… you know, right?”
Kimes then went on to detail Richardson’s shoulder injury, stating that the unfortunate timing of the injury may prove to be disastrous for the young quarterback with a lot to prove.
“This feels like- where as earlier in the Summer it might have been 55% Richardson, 45% Jones,” Kimes began. “Now I’m flipping it, now it feels like 65% Jones, 35% Richardson.”
The Reason For Daniel Jones Over Anthony Richardson
It is worth noting that Kimes has come to her conclusion a full month before training camps have even begun around the league. But regardless, I think colts fans are just ready to see an offense ran by a starting quarterback. Whether that is Richardson or Jones, the Colts can’t continue to expect success from backup quarterbacks.
Last season, the Colts saw QB reps split nearly down the middle between Richardson and Joe Flacco. The year prior, it was Richardson starting four games and Gardner Minshew heading the other 13. The year before that, it was three different starting QBs- you see the trend?
Kimes points out that both Richardson and Jones can get it done on the ground. However, Kimes believes it is the underneath dink and dump game that Jones gains the advantage in.
“In some ways, you could also argue, the receiving group works better with an offense that’s a little bit more efficient working underneath,” Kimes argued. “They brought Daniel Jones in to say, ‘Here’s a guy that can run the football, so we don’t have to lose that, and can at least be accurate throwing the football underneath’… It’s probably going less ‘wow’ and hopefully a little bit more, just, efficient.”
The Biggest Difference In Their Play Style
Anthony Richardson’s playing style is highlighted by deep balls. His average depth of target last season was the highest in the league, and it wasn’t even close. This could be part of the reason why his abysmal completion percentage was what it was. In 2024, Richardson finished with a 47.7% completion percentage. This was a full 13 points below the next lowest rated signal caller.
Daniel Jones, conversely, was towards the bottom of the league in average depth of target. Situated around quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, and Joe Burrow. You would have liked to see his safer style of play reflective in his completion percentage, but like Richardson, his 63.3% was nothing to write home about.
No opinion has been represented in this column, just simply stating that rolling out an Anthony Richardson headed offense will see a significant uptick in deep ball attempts, while Daniel Jones represents a game played closer to the box.
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