NFL analyst predicts winner of Colts QB battle

With multiple days of training camp now complete, the picture is beginning to become clearer as to who starts the season opener for the Colts against the Dolphins. 

Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones have both had their ups and downs so far, and have mostly been neck-and-neck. More recently, Richardson has run more snaps with the first team than Jones, suggesting he’s currently the leader in the clubhouse. 

ESPN’s Dan Graziano thinks so, too. 

Graziano made starting quarterback predictions for multiple NFL teams, including the Colts, giving Richardson the edge after Jones may have been the choice prior to training camp due to Richardson’s shoulder injury. 

“Training camp is where Richardson looks the best -- if he's healthy, he's likely to outperform Jones on the practice field,” Graziano writes. “The Colts also have a lot more invested in Richardson, and if it's a close competition, most people I talk to believe that will tilt things in his favor -- at least to start the season.”

Graziano acknowledges that Richardson is still a work in progress and has not played up to par so far. Availability has been an issue too. Richardson has appeared in just 15 of a possible 34 games in his first two seasons.

The Colts need to be careful, though. Graziano notes that Indy has the longest division title drought in the AFC South, and general manager Chris Ballard is facing pressure to end it soon. 

That complicates things slightly, as the Colts need to find a balance between winning games and seeing what Richardson can become. 

Should he prove to not be the remedy, Jones could take over quickly.