No, this former top-5 pick is not going to solve the Giants' QB problem

The New York Giants could be an ideal landing spot for recently benched Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.

With Daniel Jones struggling this season, holding a 2-6 record, a 62.6% completion rate, and just six touchdowns, the Giants may be ready to explore other options under center. Jones’ recent benching has only amplified the calls for change, positioning the Giants as a potential suitor for a young quarterback with upside.

Meanwhile, the Colts made waves across the league by deciding to bench Richardson for their Week 9 game against the Vikings. Following a difficult outing: 10-of-32 for 175 yards, a touchdown, and a 30.3 QBR.

Richardson even took himself out of the game briefly, citing fatigue. While growing pains were expected for the rookie, the decision to start 39-year-old Joe Flacco instead has raised questions about the Colts’ confidence in their future signal-caller.

To add to the drama, Richardson revealed that head coach Shane Steichen didn’t explain the benching. With the trade deadline approaching, this sudden shift has piqued the interest of quarterback-needy teams who see Richardson as a potential building block.

Could Anthony Richardson be the Giants' answer at quarterback?

According to Alex Ballentine at B/R, Richardson could be a good fit for the G-Men.

"They are sitting at 2-6 and are a prime candidate to draft a quarterback in the spring. The problem for Daboll is that he might not be around to pick the next passer if things continue to go south in New York. Perhaps making a move for Richardson and showing some growth by the end of the season would be a way to stave off the hot seat. Both the coach and the quarterback could use the fresh start."

- Alex Ballentine, B/R

The logic here is straightforward. The Giants take a calculated risk acquiring a future starting quarterback while simultaneously trying to save their season.

However, is Richardson really going to make that big of a difference, if any at all?

First, what would the compensation to Indianapolis look like? The Colts invested a top-5 pick in Richardson, and while he's had his struggles, they won’t part with him easily. Price tags on 22-year-old top-5 picks tend to be steep, so what’s the advantage of sacrificing future assets for a reclamation project that has shown limited development?

Second, Richardson has struggled even with the Colts' legitimate weapons. What happens if he joins the Giants? Indianapolis boasts receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, along with running back Jonathan Taylor. In contrast, the Giants’ options include Malik Nabors, Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. - highlighting a significant talent gap between the two teams.

If Richardson struggles with the Colts' weapons, imagine how much more he'd struggle with the Giants'.

He has the potential and athleticism to be a difference-maker in this league. However, the lack of polish, alarming inconsistencies, and injuries are just too many red flags for this to make sense.

While the potential trade is definitely interesting, the price-to-actual benefit ratio is a bit out of whack. If the Giants want to make an in-season quarterback change, there are other options for them, like Zach Wilson in Denver or Mac Jones in Jacksonville, that make much more sense comp-wise.

New York's future QB is in the 2025 NFL draft, not a miraculous in-season turnaround find.

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