Trent Richardson Must Be The #4 Pick

With the draft 4 days away now and controversy surrounding the #4 pick, I think it’s very clear.  Trent Richardson has to be the #4 pick.  No doubt in my mind this is the right move for the future of this Franchise.  As much as I like Morris Claiborne, I say the depth at CB is much deeper there compared to RB.  Plus I hate the fact of seeing Doug Martin in that backfield.  Simply put, Richardson should be picked for the following reasons:

1. He’s the best offensive playmaker on the board- I think this is the most obvious reason.  Robert Griffin and Andrew Luck are gone by now and Justin Blackmon seems to be falling off right now and Michael Floyd isn’t Top 5 worthy.  So for the Browns, who have stated that it’s essential to pick the best offensive playmakers in the first 2 rounds that means that Richardson is the right guy.  He’s explosive, elusive, simply put he’s a Mr. Do It All.

2. He played in the SEC- You may think this reason is stupid, but it isn’t.  It makes all the difference.  Richardson played in a Conference where the teams defenses are like the Steelers or Ravens.  Just pure athletes and guys who know how to bring you down.  If the Browns played in the NFC West (minus that 49ers Defense), then passing on Richardson is worth it.  But remember who you’re facing.  Fact of the matter is Richardson played against these types of differences and he produced very well.

3. He was very successful- Let me say this in the SEC if you’re able to run for over 700 yards as a backup you’re doing something right.  I remember last year watching Bill Parcells Confidential and one of the keys he said to drafting running backs is looking specifically at production in college overall.  There’s a reason why Arian Foster is that good people, even though no one drafted him.  He was successful at Tennessee to the point where Montario Hardesty wasn’t as much.  Richardson was successful and has produced at every level he’s played at.  There’s no reason this could continue in the NFL.

4. HE DOESN’T FUMBLE!- Here’s something we’ve had problems with every year, turnovers, turnovers and more turnovers. Trent Richardson in over 700 carries has only 1 fumble.  Plus according to scouting reports Doug Martin, David Wilson, and Lamar Miller all are very prone to fumbles.  Need I say more?

5. Time of Possession- Again another area where the Browns failed in a year ago.  Plus from what I’ve seen this is the #1 key to winning this division.  Who can control the pace of the game?  I don’t give a crap what kind of a league this is, if you control the ball, you control the game.  Richardson will push the line, be explosive and cause defenses to stay on the field.  Perfect example of a team who did this, the Denver Broncos.  The Browns need to set the pace in this division and when they do, they will win games.

6. Doesn’t matter if there’s a blitz, he still moves the chains- Now we all know the key to stopping Colt McCoy is to blitz like hell.  What is the key to stopping Trent Richardson?  Well there’s not one good answer because he lived through 8-9 man blitzes at Alabama and ran like crazy.  I think that easily will translate.

And the Most Important Reason

7. Richardson was the Alabama offense- Let me ask you a question, who was the QB and starting WRs of the Alabama National Championship team?  Anyone?  Buehler?  You can’t name them because they were irrelevant.  By the way don’t forget this team lost Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, and Greg McElroy.  Three top players who ran the offense gone.  Richardson took this team on his back at times and won games for them.  The Browns have a better team surrounding him and in time will translate to success.  By the way one more thing, HE BEAT MORRIS CLAIBORNE!

Don’t forget that Browns fans when you look at both men.  When it mattered the most in a rivalry game which happened to be the National Championship game, Richardson beat Claiborne.  Richardson is truly a once in a decade prospect, Claiborne is just another great corner the draft produces annually.  When you have the chance to take this kind of talent, you take it.  If the Browns pass on Trent Richardson for Morris Claiborne, this offense will suffer for the next 3-5 years dependant on if Brandon Weeden is the QB, but that people is another story…