Mel Kiper 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Take RB Trent Richardson

In his second mock draft of the 2012 NFL draft season, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking Alabama running back Trent Richardson with the No. 5 overall pick in the first round. 

While LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is currently a popular pick for the Buccaneers, taking Richardson is certainly an option for Tampa Bay's run-starved offense.

Kiper had this to say about the Buccaneers taking Richardson at No. 5:

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I'll say it again -- don't simply dismiss the idea that Richardson could land here because of the presence of LaGarrette Blount. A great running team now needs more than one good back, and Richardson is by far the best back on the board this year.

As well, if the Bucs are going with a "best player available" mantra early on -- very possible given a wide range of needs -- Richardson would make a lot of sense here. Blount has power, but he's far more limited as an all-around back than Richardson. The Bucs were actually below league average in yards per rush in 2011, and could look to improve there.

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In 2011, the Buccaneers ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards at 91.1 a game. A season before, when Tampa Bay won 10 games and nearly cracked the NFC playoffs, the team averaged 125.1 a game and went over 2,000 for the season. 

Injuries to Blount certainly played a factor in the plummeting numbers, as the bruising running back missed two games and was limited in several others. Adding another back to the mix could help solve that problem. 

And with Richardson and Blount in the backfield, few NFL teams would be able to match the kind of power and versatility at the running back position that this envisioned duo would have.

The Buccaneers could also use the two in a similar way as the New York Giants deploy Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs.

Richardson would be an early down back that also plays a big role in the passing game, while Blount could be a powerful change of pace back that is used in short yardage situations and down the stretch as defenses wear down. The Giants have had their fair share of success with that formula.   

Last season, the Bucs didn't get much from their No. 2 back. 

Once Earnest Graham went down for the season, Kregg Lumpkin played almost 400 snaps but received a negative grade from Pro Football Focus. Lumpkin also struggled in pass protection.

Drafting Richardson, who is the consensus No. 1 back in the 2012 NFL draft, would allow the Buccaneers to be a run-first offense without the worry of Blount going down or Lumpkin struggling in the No. 2 role. Success in the run game could also have a trickle down effect to quarterback Josh Freeman, who regressed in 2011 after an eye-opening 2010 season.  

The value is certainly there for taking Richardson, too. National Football Post has Richardson as its No. 4 overall prospect.

Here is NFP's brief scouting report on Richardson: 

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The best running back prospect I've seen since Adrian Peterson. His running style might limit his shell life a bit in the NFL. However, he's the kind of back you can ride like a rented mule from day one and should become one of the NFL's top runners early on.

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Drafting a running back as high as No. 5 has become almost taboo at the NFL draft. Richardson might be the one to help break that thinking. He's the complete back in the mold of Adrian Peterson, and the Buccaneers have a need to kick start their run game.

Claiborne might be more valuable at No. 5, but the Buccaneers would be getting a really good football player in Richardson. When drafting in the top five, that's all you really want. 

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