2012 NFL Draft: Alabama Star Trent Richardson Will Be Steal of the Draft

The 2012 NFL draft begins on Thursday, and whoever is in need of an upgrade at the running back position must be aware of the dearth of depth this year.

Trent Richardson, a Heisman finalist and BCS National Champion at Alabama, is far and away the best running back prospect in the draft. He had a phenomenal collegiate career, and was more than successful as the incumbent to Heisman award winner Mark Ingram.

Last season, Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards on 283 carries, translating to a healthy 5.9 yards per carry. He also proved to be adept at finding the end zone as he cashed in on 21 touchdowns on the ground.

Richardson has also shown to be a versatile player that caught three receiving touchdowns last season, totaled 2,083 all-purpose yards and is a skilled pass-blocker.

In terms of talent, Richardson is certainly a top-five pick.

In this new era of a pass-heavy NFL, however, will he become undervalued on draft day? Some running backs will be, but Richardson will not be overlooked and by all accounts he will be gone before St. Louis drafts at No. 6.

If selected by a team not in the need of a running back, the impact of Richardson could be mitigated, as he's a player who thrives on a heavy workload. Fellow Alabama standout Mark Ingram was drafted with the 28th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints—a pass-heavy offense.

While he certainly played a role in their 2011 season with 474 yards and five touchdowns, New Orleans was not dependent on the former Heisman winner for production.

Richardson will be much more valuable to a team in the early part of the draft.

With Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III all but certain to go with the first two picks, and Minnesota having Adrian Peterson at running back, that leaves Cleveland and Tampa Bay with the next two picks.

Cleveland just lost Peyton Hillis to free agency and must fill the void. Although they own the No. 22 selection as well, they would be foolish to allow such a blue-chip prospect pass when there's not another running back with first-round talent on the board.

In 2011, Cleveland ranked 28th in the league in rushing offense with 1,523 yards. Peyton Hillis led the team with 587 yards. That would not be such an atrocity if the passing game was even league average. The passing offense was ranked 24th in the league with a measly 193 yards per game.

The Browns had an atrocious offense last season, but with two first-round picks, the organization has the opportunity to snag a potential Pro Bowl talent in Trent Richardson, and a wide receiver with their second pick.

Richardson would improve the offense immediately, reminiscent of the impact Adrian Peterson had on Minnesota in 2007. Perhaps 1,341 yards is bit of a bloated expectation, but 1,000 yards should certainly be attainable if he stays healthy and given 250 carries.

When it comes to prospects that have the chance to change the culture of a team, Richardson may not be the franchise-altering player Andrew Luck has the potential to become, but can take the load off Colt McCoy, who suffered through a mediocre season.

Richardson will give the "Dawg Pound" something to be optimistic about, and even more so if they land a top-flight receiver such as Michael Floyd to create a dynamic duo of rookies.

The draft has the potential to do for the Browns what it did for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010. They selected safety Eric Berry, RB Dexter McCluster and TE Tony Moeaki, who all became impact players in their rookie seasons.

Head coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert will have something to build around for the future which shows how much of a steal Trent Richardson could be.

The AFC North is a loaded division which featured three playoff teams in 2011, but the Browns must begin somewhere if they plan to become relevant.

Richardson is a premier talent, but also possesses strong character.

Recently, Richardson was featured on SportsCenter, when he surprised a 17-year-old cancer patient by taking her to prom. It was his decision which speaks volumes about the level of his character, and even more so considering the NFL draft is occupying much of his time.

The Browns will receive an instant boost with the selection of Richardson, who will prove to be the steal of the draft.