The Cleveland Browns apparently are not very patient. That was the lesson learned today when the franchise dealt away Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a draft pick according to a report by ESPN.com.
To be fair, that pick was of the first-round variety as the Browns will receive Indy’s top pick in 2014. Still, the move was a shocking one.
Richardson, in case you forgot, was Cleveland’s first-round pick … in 2013. He was the number three overall pick and played a total of 18 games for the franchise. The Browns had seen enough, though, and were convinced they could do better.
Here’s the thing, while the Browns could have made a good trade, we simply won’t know for a while. Richardson could turn out to be the next Joseph Addai or the next Anthony Johnson. Fact is, we just don’t know. Despite a weak 3.5 yard per carry average, Richardson has shown some promise, running for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie season. There aren’t too many NFL teams that would flush that type of production from a number three overall pick away after only one year.
Richardson now heads to Indianapolis where, presumably, he’ll become the team’s starting running back. He only has 105 yards through two games so far, but if nothing else, this is a heck of gamble by the Browns.
