Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft: Is Trent Richardson Worth Drafting 5th Overall?

Trent Richardson is strong, fast, elusive, and smart. He's one of the better backs to come out of the draft in the past decade.

But is Richardson worth drafting with the No. 5 pick?

That is where we find the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will likely have their chance to draft the stud running back out of Alabama.

No one can diminish the skill or production of Richardson, but the position he plays immediately raises questions.

Whether by poor play or injury problems, the running back has become the poster child for what many believe the NFL stands for: Not For Long.

The average career for an NFL running back is under three seasons, raising red flags for whomever decides to use a first-round draft pick on one, no matter who it is.

Even if it's Trent Richardson.

Many good running backs come into the league, and produce right away—then wear out soon after.

Consider the fact that from the time of 2002-2009, every running back that led the league in rushing, save for Curtis Martin in 2004, was selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Judging from that, there seems to be no reason for the Bucs to be cautious when deciding whether or not to draft Richardson.

But that's where the positives end. Ricky Williams, the oft-troubled tailback, has yet to play in another Pro Bowl since leading the league in yards back in 2002. Shaun Alexander never went above a 1,000 yards again, and only played three more season after his NFL-best in 2005.

Even LaDainian Tomlinson, considered one of the best running backs in the history of the game, went from 1,815 yards in 2007 (the last year he led the league), to a far-dwindled 730 yards in his last year in San Diego as a featured back.

It goes to show that it's easy for a first-rounder to lose production, and lose it fast.

It's also clear to see that a halfback that's selected later in the draft (or not at all) can easily have better numbers throughout his career.

No first-rounders even cracked the top five in rushing last season, and Arian Foster, who led the league in rushing in 2010, was never even drafted.

The last running back to be picked in the Top 10 (where Richardson could very well be drafted) was C.J. Spiller in 2010, who ran for a mere 561 yards last year, and was considered the backup to Fred Jackson in Buffalo.

One player that is a definite exception to the assumption of the first round busts of running backs, is Adrian Peterson. The Vikings bruiser is a workhorse if there ever was one.

Many have considered Trent Richardson to be alike to Adrian Peterson when it comes to the likelihood of being capable to carry the load for an NFL franchise.

But the Bucs must realize that for every running back that has a long, successful career, there are ten or so that never come any where close to reaching their potential.

Since 2000, there have been a grand total of 34 running backs taken in the first round of the draft. Out of all of these choices, only 14 have ever made a Pro Bowl.

Though the individual numbers may seem drastically low, the number of Super Bowl rings is the number that provides the most important matter to take into account.

With those 34 picks comes three—yes, only three—Super Bowl championships, the only conclusion to a season any NFL team cares for.

It goes to show that it has been, and always will be, a quarterback's league, and team. The skills and leadership at that position will be what guides a franchise to the promise land.

A great running back is a tremendous asset to have. But it can't be all a team has, and it certainly can't be something to rely on for an extended period of time.

Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew and Minnesota's Peterson may be considered the best two running backs in the league, yet neither one of those teams were any where near earning a playoff spot this season.

In effect to that, the Bucs must fix their gaze upon players other than Richardson.

Picking up a back in the second or third round will suit Tampa Bay well, as opposed to taking one in the opening round.

The last time they won a Super Bowl, the Bucs did it by possessing one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.

By drafting Morris Claiborne (if he isn't already taken) out of LSU, or Luke Kuechly from Boston College, the old formula will be back, and the Bucs can once again be an attacking force in the NFL, by being defensive.

As for being a threat to win it all by having a great running back, consider who had the most carries for the Bucs during their magical run nearly a decade ago: Michael Pittman.

Trent Richardson may be strong, fast, elusive, and smart. But for several reasons, he isn't right for Tampa Bay.