Vikings' Kevin O'Connell is the Perfect Coach to Save Anthony RIchardson

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback situation has been in the spotlight all season long. The Vikings let Sam Darnold leave in free agency, turned down Aaron Rodgers, and gave the keys to the offense to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But after the young signal caller suffered a high ankle sprain, the Vikings have turned to Carson Wentz.

With the Vikings' offensive line in shambles, it’s uncertain whether McCarthy could make a return. But there is a chance that they’re looking for one more quarterback to add, and it could be Anthony Richardson.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Richardson is open for a trade after losing his starting QB job with the Indianapolis Colts to Daniel Jones. Fowler also added that Richardson would be open to joining a team with a “premier playcaller,” which falls right into Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s wheelhouse.

After taking Darnold from mega-bust to franchise quarterback, O’Connell could be the guy to save Richardson's career, and a link-up could happen even with the Vikings sorting out their current QB situation.

Kevin O’Connell Has Long Had Anthony Richardson on Vikings’ Radar

The Vikings are fully invested in McCarthy as their quarterback of the future, but Richardson has long been on their radar. Creator of All 32 and co-host of the Bootleg Football Podcast, Brett Kollmann, confirmed as much during a 2024 appearance on The Mina Kimes Show (h/t @vikesinsider), where he hinted that the Vikings were willing to go to great lengths to trade for Richardson during the 2023 draft.

“I don’t think people realize, like, how hard the Vikings tried to trade up for Anthony Richardson (in the 2023 draft),” Kollmann said. “Like the haul that they put on the table was massive… They were going to give away the entire farm and all the cows, like all of it. They were going to give everything. But it takes two to tango. Their trade partner thought they were going to be too good, and so they went elsewhere… Because they didn’t want low picks, they wanted high picks.”

The Colts wound up selecting Richardson with the fourth overall pick, which hasn’t worked out. But a trip to Minnesota last year came after Richardson was benched in favor of Joe Flacco, and Richardson received an encouraging message (h/t @TheBrohioan) from O’Connell as the two teams shook hands at the end of the game.

“Do me a favor and remember something. You’re a bad dude and you’re going to play a long time in this league,” O’Connell said. “Go to work every day, good things will happen for you. I still believe in you.”

While O’Connell also said that the Colts organization and head coach Shane Steichen also believed in him, that has since wavered. The Colts would probably like to get something for Richardson, but every team knows he’s not part of their future plans, which could lead to his release at some point.

Trading for Anthony Richardson Could Be a Win-Win Scenario for Vikings

Indianapolis' decision to turn the page could come sooner after Richardson’s comments. The Colts could view it as a distraction and choose to cut bait the same way the New York Giants did with Jones last offseason. With his career at a similar crossroads, Jones signed with the Vikings and joined the team’s practice squad, eventually being promoted to the active roster and leaving for the Colts the following spring.

This is where things get interesting for the Vikings. Although Minnesota has McCarthy, Wentz, and third-string QB Max Brosmer, Richardson could replace Desmond Ridder as the fourth quarterback and join the practice squad when McCarthy is healthy. It could put him in the same situation where Jones absorbed information and took it to his next team, reviving his career.

It could also benefit the Vikings even if Richardson doesn’t stick around. After Jones claimed the starting role with the Colts, the Vikings are currently in line to earn a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2026 draft, according to Over The Cap. If Richardson takes the same path, it could add another comp pick in the future, helping Minnesota add to a roster that is currently low on cheap, young talent due to their failures in recent drafts.

There’s also a scenario where the Vikings know a comp pick is coming and can afford to be more aggressive to improve the team at this year’s trade deadline. If an offensive lineman or run-stuffer becomes available, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can make a deal to fill those needs, knowing he has a bunch of draft picks at his disposal.

In the end, it feels like a win-win situation where O’Connell can save Richardson’s career and the Vikings can benefit from it in the end.

More Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors: