Stampede Blue
The Colts should look to bring in talented quarterback Justin Fields to compete with Anthony Richardson
Going after Justin Fields has been a talking point amongst Colts fans for many months now, and it’s a viable option the Colts should strongly consider for a few reasons.
While you can pick a part a bunch of different issues with Richardson’s game, notably his inability to hit layup throws and his inconsistency with his ball placement, his biggest issue is his health.
Over his first two seasons, he’s played in 15 out of 34 possible games. He’s dealt with a myriad of injuries, from his shoulder, to his head, hip, knee and also to his hamstring. It’s truly incredible to see that many injuries in the span of two years.
Richardson is going into his make-or-break season and will need to not only show improvement with his regards to his passing but also improvements with regards to his durability. To bank on both things happening in 2025 is optimistic so the Colts will need to have themselves a proper backup who could potentially be the long-term starter. 2025 might be Richardson’s last season with the team if things don’t improve for him on either front. To go into the season without an alternative long-term solution would be gross negligence towards the organization.
The best trait is availability and Richardson has not proven he has that trait.
The notion that Justin Fields is washed or not worthy of development is an incorrect one. In terms of his raw skills and talent, he is amongst the 10-12 most talented in the NFL.
Justin Fields is an elite athlete with a rare combination of arm talent, mobility, and toughness that makes him a dynamic quarterback. His raw tools are undeniable — he possesses a strong arm capable of making deep throws with velocity and accuracy, especially outside the numbers. His deep ball is one of the best among young quarterbacks and he has shown the ability to make some out of wordly throws.
I know that sounds like Anthony Richardson, but Fields has been more consistent with his passes and he can hit the checkdowns and layups throws that Richardson refuses to do! While their raw arm talents are similar (although a clear edge given to Richardson), Fields has proven to be more of a polished passer than Richardson is and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
His 4.4 speed makes him a legitimate dual-threat quarterback. In 2022, he became just the third quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, joining Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick. His ability to extend plays and escape pressure turns broken plays into explosive gains. While he may not have the size that Richardson has, he certainly has the same speed and perhaps a bit more agility and quickness.
Beyond his physical tools, Fields is tough and...
