Anthony Richardson trade rumors: Packers an ideal landing spot?

House hunting is taking a littler longer for Anthony Richardson.

Unlike the popular television show, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback isn't about to make a big decision in a minimal amount of time. Richardson was given permission to seek a trade earlier in the offseason, but there have been no takers to this point.

No deal is imminent at this time, but ESPN's Stephen Holder reported on March 14 that the Green Bay Packers are a team worth monitoring as the trade market develops. It makes sense, since free agency has mostly come and gone. With plenty of quarterbacks coming off the board, some teams are now left wondering what options are left.

That opens the door for Richardson's market to start heating up, whether that comes as a backup or potential starter. The Colts' price for the young quarterback is not known, but they have already locked in Daniel Jones for the immediate future.

Richardson is set to enter his fourth NFL season, but is currently just 23 years old and only one year older than Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There is no question about Richardson's talent, given that he was the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With some additional experience in the pros, he will look to become the next quarterback to revive his career in a new city - much like Sam Darnold and Geno Smith before him.

Here's a look at some of the top landing spots for Richardson as free agency winds down.

Anthony Richardson landing spotsGreen Bay Packers

The Packers are a team to monitor when it comes to Richardson, according to ESPN's Holder, and for good reason. This franchise just lost backup quarterback Malik Willis, who departed to become a starter for the Miami Dolphins. Willis benefited from the infrastructure that Green Bay had to offer and parlayed that into a three-year, $67.5 million deal in free agency.

Perhaps Matt LaFleur could do something similar for Richardson. He would be another young quarterback with great mobility and a strong arm for LaFleur to unlock. If Richardson can even reach a fraction of his potential, it would be a worthwhile flier for the Packers to take and greatly improve their backup situation. Even if he doesn't, it doesn't change the fact that Jordan Love is still the unquestioned QB1.

Arizona Cardinals

If one LaFleur brother has some interest, what about the other? Mike LaFleur is the new head coach in the desert and, unlike his relative in Green Bay, the Cardinals don't have a clear quarterback to lead them into the future. The plan for now appears to be moving forward with Jacoby Brissett and having Gardner Minshew back him up. Willis figured to be an option for the Cardinals and there's no reason they couldn't pivot to Richardson.

Whether he rides the bench or gets a chance to compete for the starting job, this is an evaluation year for Arizona. If Richardson fails, then the Cardinals would be in position for a top quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft. If Richardson succeeds, then the Cardinals are set up for success. It's the type of low-risk, high-reward move that the team should be making at this stage.

Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford is set to returnfor the 2026 season and there is no path for Richardson to start immediately, barring injury. However, it's the structure here that makes it an enticing landing spot for the quarterback. Between Stafford and Sean McVay, Richardson would be afforded the same type of learning opportunity that helped reviveDarnold'scareer.

While Darnold enjoyed learning under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota, Richardson could begin his redemption story with a stop in the City of Angels.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Good luck figuring out what the plan is for Aaron Rodgers. Will he return? Will he retire? With free agency essentially in the rearview mirror, there has been no indication from the quarterback about his plans for 2026. Whether Pittsburgh would have had interest in the Kyler Murray or Willis-types in free agency is unclear, but they are certainly boxed into a corner now.

With that answer not coming in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers might find that they are better off with parting with a pick for Richardson. They are a franchise stuck in NFL purgatory and should look to pick a direction, for better or worse.

Cleveland Browns

There is a common theme for the quarterback-needy teams this offseason. Unless you're the Las Vegas Raiders, it'll be tough to find a quarterback worth handing the keys to. Todd Monken is the new man in charge and he isn't attached to any of the quarterbacks in Cleveland. He could easily wipe the slate clean and chart his own path forward with a deal for Richardson.

Monken coached Lamar Jackson to one of his two league MVP awards and there's an argument to be made that it should have been two of three. That's not the expectation, but trying to unlock Richardson's talent would be worth the price of admission.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Richardson trade rumors swirl, include Packers as landing spot