2012 NFL Draft: Why the Cleveland Browns Shouldn't Take Trent Richardson

The Cleveland Browns sent GM Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur to Alabama RB Trent Richardson's pro day, a sure sign that he is very high on their list of targets at the No. 4 overall pick. Even though Richardson is a running back of rare quality, the Browns should go in a different direction at the pick.

First-round running backs just don't pay off anymore. None of the top five rushers in 2011 were first-round picks, and one, Arian Foster, wasn't even drafted. None of the final four teams had a first-round running back, and many of the best offenses in the league don't have a primary running back. 

Running back is a brutal position. We saw two second-round picks from last season suffer catastrophic injuries before the season even started, and the best RB in the game, Adrian Peterson, suffered a torn ACL in a meaningless December game. An early investment in a running back comes with more injury volatility.

Richardson has often been compared to Peterson, but he only went deep into the playoffs after his team signed veteran QB Brett Favre. The passing game can open things up for average running backs to put up great numbers, but a great running game doesn't make mediocre passers more productive or effective.

The Browns may not see Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill as a franchise quality prospect. However, if they do, they must take him at No. 4. Any call for Matt Barkley or Landry Jones in 2013 must be met with the reality that no team is guaranteed a shot at a franchise QB prospect, except in the rare and crippling case of a winless season. Unless the Browns coaches and players give up, they may not get another shot at a high quality QB prospect in coming years.

Even if the team doesn't see Tannehill as a savior at QB, LSU CB Morris Claiborne would give the Browns a bigger tactical advantage by pairing up with Joe Haden to be the best cornerback combo in the division, if not conference. If Minnesota takes Claiborne at No. 3, that would be even better, because it means USC OT Matt Kalil is there, which would give the Browns one of the best offensive tackle combos in the league.

Trent Richardson is going to be a fine NFL running back, but Browns fans should hope that he does that fine work for another team. 

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