2012 NFL Mock Draft: Trent Richardson and Declining Draft Value of RBs

Alabama running back Trent Richardson is widely considered a top 15 pick in NFL draft, but he is not going in the first round. Running backs have been devalued in the NFL draft and Richardson's lack of off-the-charts athleticism is going to cost him.

Declining Value of RBs

NFL teams have become more and more reluctant to draft running backs in the first round. It is now one of the most lightly drafted positions in the opening round.

Over the last two years only four RBs have been taken in the first round.

In 2010 three RBs went in the first: No. 9 CJ Spiller No. 12 Ryan Mathews No. 30 Jahvid Best. None of these players showed they were worthy of their lofty selection in their rookie seasons, and the RB draft value fell even further.

Last year, Mark Ingram was the first ball carrier off the board at No. 28. Ingram had the terrific resume and solid athleticism to go higher, but he almost slid out of the first because teams would rather take RBs in the later rounds.

Why Trent Richardson Will Fall

Like Ingram, Richardson has a great resume and history of success. Check out some of his highlights.

What he lacks, though, is stellar athleticism. Richardson will probably only work out at his pro day, and when he does he will display less than elite lateral quickness and a 40 time between 4.5 and 4.7.

You combine those results with the reluctance to draft RBs high in the first, and you get Richardson lasting until the second.

Will Any RBs go in the 1st?

Yes, one will. I predict Cincinnati will spend one of their two first-round picks on Miami RB Lamar Miller.

The fact that I have Miller going before Richardson is sure to raise some eyebrows, but Miller has more explosion and versatility.

The Bengals will want to add a big play threat at running back to go with skill position young guns Andy Dalton and AJ Green. Miller will be that guy—assuming he enters the draft.

Check out some of Miller's highlights, and see my full first round mock draft below.

Here is my full first-round mock:

Pick	Team	Player	Pos	School
1	Colts	Andrew Luck	QB	Stanford
2	Dolphins	Matt Barkley	QB	USC
3	Rams	Justin Blackmon	WR	Oklahoma ST
4	Cardinals	Matt Kalil	OT	USC
5	Jaguars	Morris Claiborne	CB	LSU
6	Panthers	Alshon Jeffery	WR	South Carolina
7	Vikings	Jonathan Martin	OT	Stanford
8	Seahawks	Robert Griffin III	QB	Baylor
9	Eagles	Riley Reiff	OT	Iowa
10	Broncos	Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	Alabama
11	Browns	Vontaze Burfict	LB	Arizona State
12	Chiefs	Landry Jones	QB	Oklahoma
13	Titans	Quinton Coples	DE	North Carolina
14	Cowboys	Stephon Gilmore	CB	South Carolina
15	Redskins	Manti Te'o	LB	Notre Dame
16	Bears	Mike Brewster	C	Ohio State
17	Jets	Courtney Upshaw	DE	Alabama
18	Bengals	Lamar Miller	RB	Miami
19	Buccaneers	Alfonzo Dennard	CB	Nebraska
20	Browns	Jayron Hosley	CB	Virginia Tech
21	Texans	Michael Floyd	WR	Notre Dame
22	Chargers	TJ McDonald	S	USC
23	Ravens	David DeCastro	G	Stanford
24	Giants	Alameda Ta'amu	DT	Washington
25	Bengals	Casey Hayward	CB	Vanderbilt
26	Bills	Ronnell Lewis	OLB	Oklahoma
27	Lions	Barrett Jones	T/G	Alabama
28	Patriots	Brandon Jenkins	DE	Florida State
29	Steelers	Jerel Worthy	DT	Michigan State
30	49ers	Janoris Jenkins	CB	N. Alabama
31	Patriots	Juron Criner	WR	Arizona
32	Packers	Chase Minnifield	CB	Virginia