Colts, Anthony Richardson agree to $34million deal, clearing the way to his first NFL training camp

Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts agreed Monday on a four-year, $34 million contract that is fully guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

Richardson’s agent did not immediately return DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation.

The quarterback prospect was one of the few remaining first-round picks to go unsigned with training camps in progress or about to begin.

The Colts are counting on the former Florida star to bring some long-term stability to the sport’s premier position. They placed Richardson fourth overall behind 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, but ahead of Kentucky’s Will Levis.

The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Richardson posted the fastest 40-yard sprint time (4.43 seconds) along with the best vertical jump (40 1/2 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) of the 15 quarterbacks at the NFL combine.

He was a no-brainer for the Colts, who went 4-12-1 last season with three different starters. The question now is when Richardson will take over. A franchise that has had six different starters in as many seasons will choose between journeyman Gardner Minshew and Richardson during camp and preseason.

The Colts are confident that Richardson can help them reemerge as a playoff contender, perhaps sooner than many expect. They also hope he can become the long-term solution the franchise has been looking for since Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement in 2019.

Richardson started just 13 games in college and completed just 53.8 percent of his passes in 2022.

He joins an onslaught that includes running back Jonathan Taylor, who had 1,811 yards in 2021 before getting into some injury trouble last year, and receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who recorded 187 catches for 10 touchdowns and 2,007 yards over the past two seasons.

Unfortunately for Indianapolis, in 2022 the team only managed 311.6 yards of offense per game – better than just five other teams.