The 2026 NFL Draft is still nine months away, but it’s never too early to start preparing for the future. One team that could be in the market for a quarterback from the highly anticipated 2026 class is the Indianapolis Colts.

For now, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are the two quarterbacks on the roster. However, if neither performs well this season, the Colts may already be looking ahead. Richardson is reportedly in danger of losing his starting job to Jones.

“So, if there was ever a time for Richardson to put the pieces together in his development as a pro quarterback, now is certainly the moment to present that before he finds himself at risk of losing his starting job,” Sports Illustrated’s Jared Koch wrote.

If things don’t work out in Indianapolis, ESPN’s Kevin Clark believes Richardson should consider joining the Steelers’ quarterback competition next season.

Richardson has yet to live up to the hype he generated at Florida. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians believes Richardson should have spent more time developing in college.

“Anthony, I think needed two more years of college.. as a passer. I didn’t see him being able to beat anybody in 2-minute & 3rd down. If you can’t do that in the NFL you’re just an average guy,” Arians said.

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According to Pro Football Network’s Max Dorsey, the Colts could end up selecting Drew Allar in the 2026 draft—potentially signaling the end of the Richardson era in Indianapolis.

“The Anthony Richardson era has officially failed in Indianapolis, with Daniel Jones reportedly in firm control of the Colts’ quarterback battle. The Colts probably don’t want to move forward with Jones as their long-term starter, so they select Drew Allar here,” Dorsey wrote. “Allar is a polarizing prospect with some believing he’s not worthy of a first-round selection. However, the Penn State product has the best raw arm talent in this class and saw a significant jump in accuracy from 2023 to 2024.”

Allar could lead Penn State to the promised land in what may be his final collegiate season. If his trajectory continues upward, he could be the quarterback who changes the direction of the Colts organization.