No, the Detroit Lions WILL NOT Trade for Anthony Richardson

Mike Payton of A to Z Sports recently published an article arguing that the Detroit Lions should explore trading for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. Let’s be honest, this piece was probably designed to stir debate and drive clicks. And hopefully, Payton himself doesn’t truly believe the Lions should go down this road.

Still, when an outlet floats an idea like this, it has to be addressed. So let’s tackle it head-on: the Detroit Lions will not, and should not, trade for Anthony Richardson.

Why Richardson Was Never the Answer

From the moment Anthony Richardson left Florida, we said we didn’t believe he would ever develop into a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. Two years in, nothing has changed.

Richardson has always had the physical tools, but the critical weaknesses remain: poor field vision, slow reads, and difficulty mastering an offense. These flaws weren’t fixed in college, and they haven’t improved in the NFL. That’s why he’s been benched, rushed back, hurt, and ultimately looks no closer to being a franchise quarterback today than he did on draft night.

Payton suggested Detroit could groom Richardson the way Kansas City developed Patrick Mahomes. The difference? Mahomes had already shown elite processing and accuracy coming out of Texas Tech. Richardson hasn’t shown either.

Jared Goff Is the Guy—Now and Moving Forward

Mike Payton made sure to say this is Jared Goff’s team, and he’s right about that. But where he goes off the rails is thinking Richardson is worth even a backup flyer.

The Lions don’t need another developmental quarterback project. They already went that route with Hendon Hooker. If anything happens to Goff, this team is built to win now and would need a steady veteran presence, not an inconsistent athletic project.

Simply put, there’s no scenario where Richardson adds value to a Lions roster that’s ready to contend.

Brad Holmes Is Too Smart for This

One of the hallmarks of Brad Holmes’ tenure as general manager has been his ability to maximize value with every draft pick. Do you honestly think Holmes is going to flip a fourth-rounder for a quarterback who hasn’t proven he can even stay on the field, let alone run an offense at a high level?

That’s not how this front office operates. Holmes and Dan Campbell are focused on building a Super Bowl roster, not gambling on reclamation projects.

Why This Needed to Be Addressed

Again, I get it. Mike Payton’s piece likely wasn’t written as a serious proposal so much as a conversation starter. But even so, when national readers see “Detroit Lions” and “Anthony Richardson” in the same headline, the rumor mill starts churning.

And here’s the reality check: this isn’t happening.

Detroit already has its quarterback. Richardson has shown nothing to prove he’s the long-term answer anywhere, let alone for a team with championship aspirations.

The Bottom Line

The Lions are hunting Lombardis, not quarterbacks in need of a miracle. Jared Goff is playing at an elite level, and Brad Holmes isn’t about to waste draft capital on Anthony Richardson.

Mike Payton’s column might have been clickbait, but the rebuttal is clear: No, the Detroit Lions will not trade for Anthony Richardson.