What Are the Cleveland Browns' Options Now That RB Peyton Hillis Is Gone?

The fact that running back Peyton Hillis is no longer with the Cleveland Browns doesn't come as much of a surprise. However, it is a little strange that they didn't counter the offer that he ultimately accepted from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Clearly, the Browns are ready to move on when it comes to their running game, and they have a number of options at their disposal.

A rumor emerged yesterday that Cleveland is pursuing a trade for Houston Texans running back Ben Tate. However, the Browns have not commented on the buzz and it's likely yet another false report along the lines of the team supposedly presenting an offer to free agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

As of today, the Browns' running back corps includes Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Brandon Jackson and Armond Smith. The four players certainly represent depth, but there is no clear-cut starter to fill Hillis' formidable shoes (that is, when he's healthy and committed).

A free agent acquisition isn't out of the question, especially since running backs aren't flying off the market the way wide receivers have been. The top free agent running back, Michael Bush, is likely out of the Browns' price range, but a player like Brandon Jacobs could be an option.

Otherwise, the Browns will have to look to the draft to find their new starting running back. Luckily for them, they're in perfect position to snag the year's top prospect at the position in Alabama's Trent Richardson.

Richardson, if his projections line up with reality, is the kind of game-changing running back who could both ignite the Browns' offense as well as take a great deal of pressure off quarterback Colt McCoy (or anyone who could line up under center for Cleveland this year, for that matter).

Clearly, the potential to draft Richardson must have been one of the main reasons the Browns felt no sense of urgency to make a new deal for Hillis or to use the franchise tag on him.

Though Hillis performed extremely well for Cleveland in 2010 and looked sharp near the end of the 2011 season, his inconsistency, the locker room issues he caused and the questions about his commitment make letting him walk a no-brainer when Richardson is the alternative.

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