Anatomy of a QB failure, plus the rookie with an eerily similar profile to Jefferson
This article is from Scoop City, The Athletic's NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox.
When Anthony Richardson turned to his left during the Colts' preseason opener, away from unblocked Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo, he committed an error so basic that coaches around the NFL knew what was coming next.
Anthony Richardson has exited the Colts' preseason game after taking a sack from David Ojabo.
Daniel Jones is now in at QB for Indianapolis.
🎥 @nflnetwork | H/T @StevePalazzolo_ pic.twitter.com/5cYwfwqXq3
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 7, 2025
'The Anthony Richardson experiment is over,' one predicted, as quoted in my recent 2025 Quarterback Tiers survey.
The Colts made it official Tuesday when they named Daniel Jones the starter over Richardson, who could go down as one of the biggest first-round QB busts in the history of first-round QB busts.
Advertisement
The reckoning for that decision is yet to come.
Much will be said about the Colts making a short-sighted move because third-year coach Shane Steichen (17-17 record) and ninth-year GM Chris Ballard (62-69-1) are under pressure to win right now. But there is a bigger reality at work here: Steichen would lose credibility in the locker room if he declared Richardson the starter in the absence of any evidence that Richardson is ready to handle any aspect of the job.
Richardson's scholarship is up. It's a big blow to a 2023 first-round QB class also featuring C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young.
Back to you, Jacob.
I grew up watching my dad run a leadership course called 'Play to Win.' It taught me the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose; the former is focused on maximizing positives, the latter on minimizing negatives.
After failing to develop Richardson, Steichen hopes Jones can stabilize the floor (and save his job). It's playing not to lose 101.
Steichen began his tenure in Indianapolis by playing to win. The former offensive coordinator, hired after immediate success with Justin Herbert (2020) and Jalen Hurts (2021-2022), bet on a player whose talent was so rare 'it might not come along for another 50 years,' according to one scout.
Had this worked, Richardson — who is built like Derrick Henry at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, ran a faster 40 than Henry and might have one of the strongest arms in NFL history — becomes the Colts' franchise passer, and the search since Andrew Luck's retirement mercifully ends.
Steichen bet on his ability to develop Richardson. He failed. Taking a 20-year-old quarterback with just 13 starts in college is risky, especially in the first round. For perspective, Herbert started 42 college games before working with Steichen, while Hurts had played in part of 56 college games, plus had a full season of NFL experience.
Advertisement
Richardson's completion percentage in his final year of college (53.8) and injury history (at least four injuries in the two years prior to the 2023 draft) foreshadowed what was to come. But Steichen had faith.
'I think you can help accuracy, I definitely do, with mechanics. And I think part of it is the scheme you put them in. Don't make them think too much, and simplify the offense and build it around the quarterback,' said Steichen a month prior to drafting Richardson at No. 4.
If any quarterback needed the Packers' approach of sitting rookie passers for three years, it was Richardson. The Colts brought in Gardner Minshew, but they still rushed Richardson into the starting role. The results were predictable.
Injuries and inaccuracy plagued the now 23-year-old who has just 15 of a possible 34 games. His career completion percentage, 50.6, is a league-worst 16 percentage points below what an average NFL passer would complete in similar situations, per Next Gen Stats.
Richardson's work ethic, leadership and toughness have also been challenged, with GM Chris Ballard telling The Athletic '[Richardson] was drowning,' and that he wishes the Colts had let Richardson sit and learn.
The failure of Steichen and Richardson appears sealed after Jones' appointment. If you can't beat out Jones, who was introduced to the playbook a few months ago, should you be a starting NFL quarterback? Of course not.
Richardson's accuracy needed work, and Steichen made it clear that consistency, not explosive plays or upside, was his top priority in the quarterback competition. 'Take care of the football, make good decisions with the football and really move your offense down the field,' Steichen said in April. 'The guy who's the most consistent doing that will win the job.'
Only 58 percent of Richardson's throws last season were on target, while Jones' 81 percent led the NFL in his breakout 2022 season. (The league average is 75 percent). Steichen cited that 2022 season repeatedly when announcing the change, and explained that Jones offered more complete, consistent quarterback play, while Richardson 'needs to continue to develop in those areas.'
Advertisement
But if everything goes according to plan, Richardson — drafted two years ago, yet still younger than Shedeur Sanders — won't get a chance to develop this year. '[Jones is] the starting quarterback for the season,' Steichen said Tuesday. 'I don't want to have a short leash on that.'
While choosing Jones is justified, The Athletic's James Boyd explained that there seems to be no clear plan for Richardson's development in Indianapolis, despite their front office preaching patience. 'I just think eventually Anthony's going to be who we think he can be,' Ballard said. 'I still believe that. Whether that's this year or next, I don't know when it's going to happen.'
Exercising Richardson's fifth-year option next offseason, worth about $20 million guaranteed, would offer another example of playing not to lose. But unless Steichen and Ballard do some winning, someone else will make that decision.
At least one rookie receiver dominates each season.
Malik Nabers (1,204 yards), Ladd McConkey (1,149) and Brian Thomas (1,282) all finished among the top 10 in receiving yards last season. Puka Nacua did the same in 2023, as did Ja'Marr Chase in 2021 and Justin Jefferson in 2020. The only year without a rookie receiver among the top 10? 2022, when Garrett Wilson (15th) and Chris Olave (18th) came close.
Buccaneers rookie Emeka Egbuka is my pick this year. This is a lofty comparison, but Egbuka reminds me of Justin Jefferson for several reasons. Hear me out:
1. Just as Jefferson's final season at LSU was overshadowed by a generational talent in Ja'Marr Chase, Egbuka's 2024 was clouded by Jeremiah Smith, a similar talent and Dane Brugler's top receiver in college football.
2. That pushed Egbuka to the slot, where he took 81.1 percent of his snaps for Chip Kelly's offense. Jefferson was similarly penciled as a slot-heavy receiver after 98.6 percent of his snaps came there.
Advertisement
3. Jefferson and Egbuka averaged an identical 2.6 yards per route run, though Jefferson had higher total numbers in a pass-happy offense led by Joe Burrow, while Ohio State often leaned on their run game.
The most startling similarity is their measurables, given that we associate Jefferson with twitchiness and Egbuka was labeled a steady, reliable presence without flash (think: Marvin Jones):
Jefferson's deceptive and unique talent had pundits comparing him to Marvin Jones before the Vikings drafted him at No. 22. The similarly built and productive Egbuka went No. 19.
Now, with Buccaneers receivers Jalen McMillan on the IR and Chris Godwin still not practicing, Egbuka has the opportunity to have a Jefferson-like season in an elite offense. It wouldn't be the first time.
⭐ Jayden Daniels' 2024 was magic. But was it the best rookie quarterback season this century? The Athletic ranked the top-25 rookie QB seasons since 2000.
🚷 The Steelers make an exception. Sitting Aaron Rodgers for their final preseason game makes the 41-year-old the first healthy quarterback Mike Tomlin has held out of the preseason. Mike DeFabo explains why.
🔮 AFC win totals. Austin Mock uses his model to project the 2025 season. As a Bengals believer, I hope he's right.
👔 'Normal-ass dude.' Alec Lewis shares a detailed look at Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the commodities trader turned NFL executive whose journey is anything but normal.
▶️ Yesterday's most-clicked: Matt Barrows explains why the 49ers are so injury prone, and it starts with practice speed.
Thanks for joining us for our 300th newsletter!
📫 Enjoyed this read? Sign up here to receive The Athletic's free NFL newsletter in your inbox.
Also, check out our other newsletters.
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
Raiders TE Brock Bowers cracks top 25 in first appearance on NFL Top 100
The NFL Top 100 has reached the final quarter pole. And making his debut on the list is Raiders All Pro tight end Brock Bowers who came in at number 24. It was a[n] historic rookie season for Bowers in Las Vegas. Whoever was under center for the Raiders, Bowers was the consistent threat in Vegas' offense. Bowers set a new rookie record for receptions and broke Hall of Famer Mike Ditka's 63-year-old TE record for receiving yards set in 1963. Despite not winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Bowers made the Pro Bowl, earned first-team All-Pro honors and now makes an appearance on the Top 100. After just one season, Bowers is the best tight end in football. Just as he was from the moment he took the field at Georgia and throughout his three years there; where he became the only ever two-time Mackey Award winner. Bowers leapfrogged the former top dogs at the tight end position in the Top 100. George Kittle landed at 31 and Travis Kelce at 37. With the countdown reaching number 23 on Thursday, Bowers is the first current Raiders player to make an appearance on this year's list. So, now we wait to see where Maxx Crosby lands as they are the only two Raiders players deemed worthy of this year's list.
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
What's next for Kelee Ringo if he doesn't win the Eagles' CB job?
What's next for Kelee Ringo if he doesn't win the Eagles' CB job? Sometimes, things won't work out as planned, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't plan anyway. Sometimes, life happens. Sometimes, football happens. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Kelee Ringo 105th overall during the 2023 NFL Draft. That made him a fourth-round selection. They knew they didn't need him to start immediately, but they were also excited about future possibilities. Ringo was coming off a promising career with the Georgia Bulldogs. He had been part of two College Football Playoff National Championship Game wins. In his first, his pick-six was the defining moment that put the game out of reach. He wasn't the perfect cornerback. If he had been, he wouldn't have been a fourth-round selection, but he was polished enough. Philadelphia knew it had some coal it could potentially forge into a diamond. They also felt as though they didn't need to rush him onto the field prematurely. Darius Slay was on the roster. So was James Bradberry. Remember, the latter was coming off an All-Pro season, and no one knew a rapid decline was coming. Long story short, Philadelphia had to alter its plan somewhat. Harsh realities may have come for Eagles CB Kelee Ringo James Bradberry was the ultimate professional. He's a good guy, but the NFL is a results-driven business. His regression came faster than expected. Avonte Maddox couldn't stay healthy. The solution to both issues was to draft defensive backs in Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were the selections. Both displayed the 'it' factor early, so rather than slide Ringo into the starter's role vacated by Bradberry, they instead started Mitchell outside opposite Slay. DeJean eventually took over as the starter in the slot after an early bye week. It seemed Ringo could provide depth as the first guy off the bench in an emergency, and even though Vic Fangio and company experimented with that idea, the decision was made that Isaiah Rodgers was more battle-tested and game-ready. That proved to be the right decision, as did the decision to bank on Mitchell and DeJean. Both finished as Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists. Both, barring injury, are going to be great Eagles. It's year three for Kelee Ringo. It seemed he entered this season with his best opportunity to win a starter's role. Bradberry, Rodgers, and Maddox all left during free agency, but he was thrown another curveball. It became evident that Philadelphia felt better about pushing him than promoting him. They added Adoree' Jackson in free agency and Mac McWilliams during the draft. McWilliams is advancing nicely, but he's also five feet eleven. Philadelphia still had hope for an aging plan. They tried to give Ringo every opportunity to prove he could win the starter's role. Unfortunately, his battle with Jackson hasn't produced a clear winner. That led Howie Roseman to execute a trade. It was his first with the Las Vegas Raiders. That gave the Eagles another option, newcomer Jakorian Bennett. Ringo's offseason has offered more questions than answers. He's been among the most disappointing Eagles in training camp so far, placing him on a list along with the likes of Kenyon Green, the majority of the backups along the offensive line, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. So, we get the plan from two years ago. Philadelphia drafted what they hoped would be insurance and a future starter in the form of Kelee Ringo, but his development hasn't gone as planned. It's for that reason that the writing seems to be on the wall. He'll make this team, but for now, it's hard to envision him providing anything but depth and special teams duty.
New York Post
a few seconds ago
- New York Post
Buffalo Bills owner's $100M yacht sparks outrage as taxpayers fund $850M stadium: ‘Slap in the face'
The billionaire owner of the Buffalo Bills has sparked fresh outrage over his yacht — as New York state taxpayers remain partially on the hook for his new $2.1 billion stadium. Terry Pegula, who once threatened to move the Bills out of western New York if taxpayers refused to shoulder part of the cost to build a new venue, is also the owner of a $100 million superyacht named 'Top Five II'. Bills fans erupted after a fan recently posted TikTok footage of Pegula's lboat anchored in Newport, RI. The clip triggered a firestorm over the billionaire's lifestyle while New York and Erie County taxpayers bankroll the largest public subsidy in NFL history. 7 Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula is under fire after his $100 million yacht was spotted in Newport, RI, while taxpayers cover $850 million of the team's new stadium costs. Getty Images 'The Pegulas are relaxing in Newport while we pay for the stadium? That's a slap in the face,' one Bills Mafia member fumed online. Pegula's 200-foot superyacht is a custom-built Hakvoort delivered in 2021 and valued at between $75 million and $100 million. The vessel sleeps 12 guests in six suites and carries 18 crew, with lavish interiors featuring designer touches from Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Amenities include a glass-sided spa pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, cinema lounge, gym and expansive owner's deck with private dining, bar, and entertainment areas. The yacht is also reportedly available for charter at more than $500,000 per week. His floating palace is reportedly named for his five children: two from a previous marriage and three with current wife Kim. Their daughter Jessica Pegula, 31, is a tennis superstar with seven ATP titles who reached last year's US Open finals. 7 The 200-foot luxury vessel, Top Five II, boasts a spa pool, cinema lounge and designer interiors, and is valued at up to $100 million. TikTok/ktlynn18 7 Bills Mafia fans erupted online after TikTok footage of Pegula's yacht went viral. TikTok/ktlynn18 'I bet he pays more to dock that than he does in taxes,' a Bills fan who identified himself as Craig wrote on Facebook. He added: 'Love the Bills, but I'm not gonna worship the Pegulas who pay nothing in taxes on money they made hydro fracking.' Another enraged supporter ripped the arrangement on Reddit: 'Love the Bills, but this stadium deal is robbery. Pegulas pay nothing while we go broke.' New York taxpayers are shelling out $600 million despite many being Giants and Jets fans. Those teams play across state lines at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, leaving Empire State residents funding a rival franchise. 7 The image above is a renderings of the Bills' $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium project, which is already $560 million over budget. Populous 7 The new Bills stadium is considered to be the largest public subsidy in the history of the NFL. Populous Erie County is kicking in another $250 million, bringing total public funding to $850 million — the most taxpayer money ever committed to an NFL facility. Critics have torched the arrangement as 'corporate welfare' and one of the worst stadium deals in sports history while economists argue the massive subsidy should fund education, infrastructure or social services instead of padding a billionaire's bottom line. Pegula, the 74-year-old Penn State alum, who boasts a reported net worth of $7 billion that is derived largely from fracking and natural gas investments, is relying on public funding for the New Highmark Stadium. Meanwhile, the stadium deal has Bills fans seeing red as costs spiral out of control. The project is already $560 million over the original estimate, yet Pegula insisted on luxury features like a 'heated roof' while refusing to build a dome that could host Super Bowls. 'While we think it was easy here in Western New York, getting it through the New York State Legislature, which has a lot of people from parts of the state that are not Buffalo, it was hard,' Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, said in January 2024. 'But we got it done.' The Pegula family also owns the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, giving them two teams benefiting from public largesse while maintaining their extravagant lifestyle. The Sabres have long relied on taxpayer support, starting with the construction of KeyBank Center in the 1990s, when public funds covered about $55 million, or 45% of the total cost. 7 Pegula's daughter is Jessica Pegula, an elite tennis player. She is seen above at the US Open on Wednesday. REUTERS 7 The Pegula family also owns the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. Terry Pegula is seen left with wife Kim Pegula. USA TODAY Sports The team's HarborCenter project later received roughly $57 million in state and local tax breaks, making it one of Buffalo's most heavily subsidized downtown developments. With the arena now nearly 30 years old, state and local leaders have already signaled that major renovations or even a new facility could once again require significant public investment. The Post has sought comment from Pegula and Hochul.
