Quarterback dilemmas in the NFL are on the rise. Teams go all in on a young QB, hoping he is the future, only to be met with inconsistency, injuries, or both. Remember the Patriots? They’ve been trying to find someone to fill Tom Brady‘s cleats. Or the Broncos? They thought Russell Wilson was the answer, only to realize they might need a do-over. Even the Browns, who handed Deshaun Watson a massive contract, have dealt with their fair share of instability. The Colts are also navigating a quarterback situation. They have a young, exceptionally gifted QB, but will head coach Shane Steichen trust him to grow with the team?

This year, the Indianapolis Colts come with drama. The real fire came from HC Shane Steichen’s not-so-subtle message to QB Anthony Richardson. But the QB found his supporter in TE Tyler Warren. To break it all down, when asked about the possibility of teaming up with Richardson in Indianapolis, Warren’s response was pure admiration. “He’s definitely one of a kind and a heck of an athlete at the quarterback position. And he’s a great quarterback, too, so that’d be really cool,” he remarked. Warren, one of the best TEs in this year’s draft class, knows what a good QB can do for his career. Warren sees the potential, despite Richardson’s rocky start in the NFL.

The Colts’ TE room in 2024? Let’s say… it left a lot to be desired. A total of 39 catches, 467 yards, and two touchdowns weren’t exactly striking fear into opposing defenses. That’s why GM Chris Ballard has made it clear that they need a dude who can control the middle of the field. Enter Tyler Warren, Penn State’s star TE, tailor-made for that role. He is ain’t some under-the-radar prospect; this guy put up crazy numbers last season: 104 receptions, 1,233 yards, and eight touchdowns. Indeed, he also won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end.

If you ever doubt that a top-tier TE can change an O-line overnight, just look at what Brock Bowers did as a rookie: 112 catches, nearly 1,200 yards, and five touchdowns. That’s the kind of impact the Colts are hoping Warren could bring. He’s got the size, the hands, and the route-running ability to become Anthony Richardson’s new best friend (if Richardson keeps the job). If the Colts pull No. 14 on Warren, they’d be getting a playmaker who can immediately upgrade their passing attack.

However, the HC has some wisdom for their QB.

Shane Steichen warns Richardson

On the flip side, we have Shane Steichen, who wasn’t exactly handing out compliments. Instead, he made it very clear: Richardson needs to step up. “Building on the fundamentals and obviously continuing to work on his passing. Getting the completion percentage up will be big going forward for him,” Steichen said. So, Richardson’s accuracy has to improve quickly. And the numbers back up Steichen’s concern.

Richardson ended the 2024 season dead last in completion percentage (47.7%) and passer rating (61.6). His passing success rate was a rough 36%, ranking 40th out of 43 QBs.

But Steichen pointed out another major issue: Richardson’s ability to stay on the field. “We’ve had those conversations, myself and him. Just being consistent. Obviously, being on the field—15 games the last two years. He played 11 last year and did some really good things, but just looking for the consistency.” The QB needs to hear and follow his coach’s wisdom.

Interestingly, Colts’ GM Chris Ballard confirmed that the quarterback job is an “open competition” heading into the summer. That means Richardson will have to prove he deserves the starting role. And if he doesn’t, the Colts could look elsewhere. Fans are already speculating about them making a move for a veteran QB, with names like Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford being floated around. So, Warren may be excited about the idea of playing with Richardson, but there’s ain’t no guarantee he’ll get the chance.

From the Colts’ perspective, they invested a first-round pick in Richardson, but injuries and inconsistency have slowed his development. Meanwhile, they have a golden opportunity to add a weapon like Tyler Warren, a guy who could make life a lot easier for whoever is in the center.

Undoubtedly, it’s a very dicey situation for the Colts. Richardson needs to prove himself, both in his performance and his durability. It’s a bit off that a first-round pick is now fighting for his future with the Colts in just 2 years. As the team ain’t committing to him outright, with every snap, every throw, and every rep, his fate hangs in the balance. Nevertheless, this summer’s competition is going to be a must-watch.