Overview

• Indianapolis confirmed Jones as the starter against Miami on Sept. 7, leaving former top-five pick Anthony Richardson as the backup.
• Richardson’s agent hinted he could seek a change of scenery following the decision, according to reporting.
• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell and other outlets proposed Pittsburgh as a logical destination, with suggested costs as low as a 2026 fourth-round pick and citing a $1 million 2025 salary and $5.4 million guaranteed in 2026.
• Proponents point to the Steelers’ short window with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and uncertain longer-term options behind him in Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard.
• Analysts note Richardson’s upside alongside a small NFL sample and injury history, and no trade has been announced or confirmed by either team.