2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Must Make Smart Move with Trent Richardson

Trent Richardson is the only choice for the Cleveland Browns with the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL draft. 

While the Browns could use a receiver like Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, Richardson will be the best player on the board when the team is on the clock. The Alabama running back is an elite talent who will make the biggest immediate impact of any player in this year's draft class.

At 5'9" and 228 pounds, Richardson has a great combination of size and top-end speed. He runs like a bull, with outstanding power and balance, and has a wide base, which means he rarely goes down on first contact. But what makes Richardson special is the fact that once he gets through the initial wave of defenders, he has the speed to run away from players at the second level.

With Peyton Hillis leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, the Browns need a running back. The way to help quarterback Colt McCoy improve is to surround him with talent. Richardson would not only accomplish that, he would give the Browns a running game immediately.

Richardson was a team captain at Alabama and led them to a BCS title last season while setting school single-season records in rushing yards (1,679), rushing touchdowns (21) and all-purpose yards (2,083). Another key statistic is that he fumbled just one time in 312 touches in 2011. 

He is the most complete running back to enter the NFL since Adrian Peterson in 2007, and should be one of the NFL's best running backs within three years. Cleveland would be foolish to let Richardson go by.

The Browns went 4-12 in 2011 and they ranked 28th in rushing offense at just 95.7 yards per game. Richardson would be an immediate upgrade and would give McCoy someone to lean on offensively. He is a far better option than Blackmon at No. 4 because of the immediate return he would provide.