# Carter Bahns: Reviewing the moves that led to Chris Ballard's firing, Bahns judges Anthony Richardson, taken No. 4 overall in 2023, a bust who has failed to justify his first-round draft slot.

**Claimed:** Oct 19, 2026
**Pundit:** Carter Bahns — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/carter-bahns
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-colts-fired-chris-ballard-worst-gm-moves-sauce-gardner-trade/

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> While he remains on the roster, Richardson is a bust of a first-round pick at this stage of his career.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **Anthony Richardson to disappoint at the next level**
  - Kind: Draft Bust Calls · About: Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- Anthony Richardson — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/anthony-richardson
- Indianapolis Colts — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/colts

## What others said about the same people

- John Middlekauff on Anthony Richardson: Middlekoff's bold predictions, as relayed on the show, have the Patriots and Colts making the playoffs; he also argues the Colts whiffed on Anthony Richardson, comparing him to Trey Lance. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eaacd99d-867e-4bab-9c40-015de85caa35 (scored 100)
- Chris Long on Indianapolis Colts: Previewing the Week 9 slate, Chris Long expects the Saints to beat Cleveland, the Colts to beat Dallas, New England to edge Green Bay, and Baltimore to beat the Chargers on Monday night. He also calls the Packers a top-10 defense once Micah Parsons returns, names his top six quarterbacks of the season, and expects Brandon Ayuk to be released, with Will Lee and Trevion Henderson sidelined this week. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/623f8e00-789e-4239-9edc-5e1285346b9d (scored 0)
- Jesse Holley on Indianapolis Colts: Jesse predicted the Cowboys finish 10-7 but still win the NFC East with 10 wins, picking Dallas over the Giants, Commanders, Texans, Buccaneers, Colts (loss), and losing to Baltimore, Green Bay, Philadelphia twice, Arizona, Seattle and the Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c8bf64dc-c1b3-42db-86f8-51b862676332 (scored 0)
- Danny Parkins on Indianapolis Colts: Parkins predicted the Cowboys will finish 11-6, starting 5-1 with wins over the Giants, Commanders and an upset of the Ravens, splitting with Philadelphia, and beating Green Bay and Jacksonville, while losing to the Texans, 49ers, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks and Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1a6d06c4-7bb0-43e7-891d-6f8b688d4f12 (scored 0)
- Jake Arthur on Johnathan Edwards: Arthur predicted a lopsided Jaguars win over the Colts in Jacksonville, 31-13, continuing the Colts' losing streak there, while offering a 'bold' counter-prediction that Daniel Jones accounts for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/6d371d6d-9bb9-4350-a7a8-9c3c49578184 (scored 0)
- Drake Wally on Quenton Nelson: Despite the midseason firing of GM Chris Ballard, Wally expects the Colts to avoid a fire sale, predicting that core stars such as DeForest Buckner, Sauce Gardner, Jonathan Taylor, Grover Stewart and Quenton Nelson will not be shopped before the trade deadline. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/285732b4-0f82-4f6e-83fb-552f54f51d37 (scored 0)

## More draft bust calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- John Middlekauff on Caleb Williams: Middlekauff expects either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson to win this year's MVP, calling them the two best players in the league. He is pessimistic on the Bears, forecasting six or seven wins and saying he'd bet Caleb Williams doesn't work out as a franchise quarterback. He also sees Oklahoma's John Mattier as a first-round pick who'll be in the Heisman mix. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/deaaf3f6-e53e-4080-a0ca-d5f872b54c6a (scored 0)
- Jason Fitz on Cam Ward: Fitz predicted Joe Burrow will win NFL MVP, argued Cam Ward is on track to be remembered as the worst No. 1 overall bust since JaMarcus Russell, said the Titans could very likely land the No. 1 pick again, expects Jacksonville to blow out the Colts, sees Indiana's Charlie Becker as a high first-round pick, and believes Lamar Jackson stays in Baltimore long-term. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b0053c55-e7b4-4cd5-b7ff-0f4f75a6eeda (not settled)
- Hanford Dixon on Dillon Gabriel: Dixon said the Browns wasted a third-round pick on Dillon Gabriel, arguing he can be a decent NFL backup but not in Cleveland, and that Shedeur Sanders would be the quarterback to step in if Deshaun Watson were hurt. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ea3f186f-d9c4-4edd-a3db-8bf99027eff8 (not settled)
- John Shipley on Jack Kiser: Shipley declares linebacker Jack Kiser, taken 107th overall in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, the Jaguars' first draft bust of the new Coen/Gladstone/Boselli regime after Cincinnati claimed him on waivers. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/87f2f656-5cde-4e4c-b30f-fffd5e5d1778 (not settled)
- John Green on T.J. Sanders: Green expects the Bills to place second-year defensive lineman T.J. Sanders on injured reserve while Phidarian Mathis returns from suspension to the active roster, and argues Sanders is already trending toward bust status relative to his No. 41 overall selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/26609082-1dfb-4294-854d-59dfee0c58aa (not settled)
- Blaine Grisak on Xavier Legette: Grisak argues the Rams still need a third wide receiver and lists five trade candidates they should explore, while judging both Quentin Johnston and Xavier Legette as first-round receivers who have not lived up to their draft billing. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9f4d09ab-2993-420f-8113-7269099da319 (not settled)

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