Could the Pittsburgh Steelers land their quarterback of the future for the cost of only a fourth-round pick?
ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell seems to think so, as he shares in a column about 10 potential NFL trades.
He suggests that the Steelers could land Colts backup quarterback Anthony Richardson, a former top-five pick, for the paltry cost of a 2026 fourth-rounder.
"Let's find a new home for Richardson, whose camp made noise about struggling to trust the Colts after they decided to make Daniel Jones their starter for Week 1," Barnwell writes. "Jones will be on a short leash and has been prone to injury during his time in the NFL, which would lead me to believe the Colts will keep Richardson. But Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard might just decide a fresh start would make sense for all parties involved. In this scenario, the Colts would land compensation in line with what the 49ers received in 2023 for Trey Lance, a similarly frustrating former top-five pick who was traded away after two pro seasons."
The trade idea might not initially make sense for the Steelers, who hitched their wagon to former NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers last offseason. But Rodgers is 42 years old and is coming off a brutal two-year stretch with the Jets.
Richardson is still just 23 and relatively cheap -- even for backup QB standards.
"Richardson simply hasn't been up to the task of playing quarterback at the professional level, but he also has thrown just 348 pro passes," Barnwell writes. "The Steelers wouldn't be on the hook for an exorbitant deal, as he is owed $1 million in 2025 and $5.4 million in 2026, all of which is guaranteed. If the Steelers think there's a possibility of him turning into a viable starter next season, the 23-year-old would be worth the risk, especially given their current alternatives."
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