The Cleveland Browns currently have more quarterbacks than they can keep rostered into the regular season, which should create an opportunity for a trade at some point this summer.
The most likely outcome is dealing either Joe Flacco or Kenny Pickett — the two veterans on the roster aside from Deshaun Watson, whose injury and contract situations make him unmovable — for a Day 3 draft pick. However, if the Browns are willing to trade one of their recently drafted rookie quarterbacks — either Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders — along with a future mid-round draft pick of their own, there might be a better option on the table.
The Indianapolis Colts benched Anthony Richardson in favor of Flacco during the middle of last season and acquired former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings signal caller Daniel Jones in free agency to compete with him for the starting job this preseason. All signs point to Richardson being on his last chance to establish himself as the longterm starter in Indy.
Anthony Richardson’s Trade Value Likely to Decrease the Longer He Stays With Colts
By trading for Richardson this summer or ahead of the 2025 deadline, the Browns could control Richardson’s contract rights for up to three seasons before an option to use the franchise tag to keep him in 2028 arrives.
Richardson would actually be relatively cheap over the next couple of seasons, as he carries base salaries of just over $1 million in each of those campaigns with a roster bonus of $4.2 million still owed in 2026. Indianapolis already paid the vast majority of Richardson’s first NFL contract via a $21.7 million signing bonus two years ago.
Richardson has thrown for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 starts across two seasons, per Pro Football Reference. He has also rushed the football 111 times for 635 yards and 10 TDs.