Trent Richardson Is Only Player Browns Should Consider at No. 4 in NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns have the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, and you just get the sense that people are waiting for them to screw it up.

This is largely because the Browns haven't done much as an organization in recent years to show they deserve the benefit of the doubt. They haven't won any more than five games in any of the last four seasons, and they've finished with double-digit losses in nine of the last 10 seasons.

At this point, the franchise's last playoff victory in 1994 is a distant memory. The Browns are a symbol of NFL futility, which is mighty embarrassing given the renowned parity of the league. The good people of Cleveland deserve better (I truly mean that).

There's only one thing the Browns can do to avoid screwing up the No. 4 pick, and that's draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson. He's certainly the best running back in the 2012 draft class, and Greg Cosell of NFL Films thinks he is actually the best player in the 2012 draft class. Yup, better even than Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert did not tip the team's hand when he spoke to the media about the draft last week. However, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer, Heckert did say the Browns are preparing to weigh two different options when they're on the clock at No. 4.

Two? That doesn't sound so good, and that doesn't sound good because two is more than one. And like I said, the Browns should only be worried about one player right now, and that's Richardson.

Conventional wisdom in the NFL these days suggests it's foolish to take a running back so high in the draft. Recent history has shown running backs are a dime a dozen, and that good ones can be taken at any point in the draft.

For example, 2011 leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew was a second-round pick. Ray Rice was also a second-round pick. Michael Turner was a fifth-round pick. Arian Foster, who is arguably the best running back in the league, went undrafted.

What makes Richardson so much more special than any of these guys—or any other running back, for that matter?

Good question. What I personally like most about Richardson is how hard it is to determine exactly what kind of running back he is. There are speed backs (Chris Johnson), and Richardson is not one of those. There are power running backs (former Brown Peyton Hillis), and Richardson is not one of those. There are shifty running backs (Reggie Bush), and Richardson is not one of those. 

Richardson is none of these things specifically. He's all of them in one package. He has enough speed to outrun defenders, enough power to overpower defenders and enough moves to shake defenders out of their shoes.

Physically, Richardson is a freak. We should, however, also give him credit for having a great head on his shoulders. It's not all brawn. He's got brains, too, and he certainly has great vision.

Make no mistake about it, Richardson is a guy who could step right in and help the Browns right away. And goodness, do they need help.

The Browns finished 30th in the league in scoring last season. They finished 24th in passing, and 28th in rushing. Moving the ball up and down the field was a challenge, primarily because the Browns lacked the personnel to move the ball.

Adding Richardson will not solve Cleveland's woes in one fell swoop, but he'll at least be the kind of presence the Browns had in 2010 when Hillis was healthy and productive. He'll be able to get the tough yards, and Richardson will also hit more home runs than Hillis ever hit.

Richardson's success will make life much easier for Colt McCoy, who needs as much help as he can get given his limitations as a quarterback. He'll never be Tom Brady, but he could at least be an effective quarterback if he had a running game to take some pressure off him.

If the Browns take anybody other than Richardson, they'll be rolling the dice. There's no need for them to do that, as drafting Richardson would be them not only making a safe pick, but the best pick they can possibly make.

Richardson is a no-brainer. If the Browns don't take him, we will know once and for all that the organization is lacking in brains.