The Indianapolis Colts took a major gamble when they selected Anthony Richardson at No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft. They saw a small glimpse of the potentially immense returns on that risk early last season, and they could be further rewarded with an MVP-caliber season from the young signal-caller in 2024.

While Richardson dominated the combine and had unprecedented size and athleticism for the quarterback position, his lack of experience and production in college were legitimate concerns. Those fears turned out to be unfounded after Richardson looked dominant right out of the gates.

Although injuries limited the quarterback to only four appearances as a rookie, Richardson made the most of them by completing 50 of his 84 throws for 577 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception. His dynamic rushing skills were on full display as well, as the 6’4″, 244-pound signal-caller went off for 136 yards and four scores on his 25 carries.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, the 24-year-old hinted that he has more in store, saying that “people didn’t really get to see everything I could do on the field” before an AC joint sprain cut his rookie season short.

Considering the lasting impression Richardson made on only 173 offensive snaps in 2023, an MVP award isn’t out of the question if he shows growth in Year 2 while remaining on the field for a majority of the season.

The Colts prioritized building around the potential franchise quarterback this offseason, locking down top wideout Michael Pittman Jr. on a long-term extension and spending a second-round pick on Adonai Mitchell to work as a No. 2 option.

With his pass-catching unit solidified, Richardson has a sky-high ceiling moving forward. He just needs to tap into that potential and stay healthy to reach his MVP heights.