With the NFL Draft rapidly approaching (ok so it's still like a month away), everyone seems to have an opinion as to who "this" team or "that" team needs. For the Cleveland Browns, there are a lot of needs.
Far be it for me to tell Mike Holmgren or Tom Heckert how to put together a team, their resumes speak for themselves. Holmgren is one of a few coaches to take two franchises to a super bowl as a head coach and has always been heavily involved with personnel choices. Heckert was a major player in putting together a team in Philadelphia that went to four straight conference championship games.
That kind of success doesn't come by accident, so they deserve some patience when it comes to their decisions. If Mike Holmgren could make the Seahawks winners, he can make the Browns winners.
That being said, the Browns must take Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the draft.
The arguments against Richardson have some validity:
Runningbacks just aren't worth top ten picks anymore
We have bigger needs
Justin Blackmon/Morris Claiborne would be better
All of those arguments hold water, I've even used some of those arguments against taking Richardson. Ultimately here's why Richardson is the best choice.
Runningbacks just aren't worth top ten picks anymore
Over the last five years, this has been true. Runningbacks taken in the first round of the draft during that time frame include the likes of Mark Ingram, Jahvid Best, C.J. Spiller, Donald Brown, Felix Jones, Jonathon Stewart and Knowshon Moreno. While these guys haven't been superstars and perhaps wouldn't have been taken in the first round in a re-draft, Adrian Peterson and Darren McFadden would certainly be top ten picks.
Richardson is that good. Runningbacks like Richardson don't come around every year. He isn't the top runninback by default and he has consistently produced in college. Even when backing up last year's lone runningback taken in the first round it was clear that Richardson is special.
Richardson is able to run with both power and speed. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and is already a polished blocker who played in a pro-style offense in college. He is ready to take over from day one and be the focal point of the offense.
For an anemic offense like the Browns. That is definitely worthy of their top pick.
We have bigger needs
This one is sort of a blanket statement and its true. The Browns still have a ton of needs all over the field. A second corner, another linebacker, help along the offensive line and a wide receiver come to mind but the biggest need the Browns have is an offensive identity.
When was the last time the Browns had a bonafide star on the offensive side of the ball?
Take your time....
Time's up.
The answer?
Not since they came back. Cleveland is so desperate for a star that we acted like Mike Alstott 2.0 could carry an NFL offense after literally having one productive season. We're so desperate for an offensive star that we pretend Josh Cribbs is a star.
While Hillis and Cribbs are decent pieces, they are just that, pieces. On any other team those players are role players, definitely not studs. In Trent Richardson, Cleveland would have their first legitimate star player that would start for more than half of the teams in the NFL, filling Cleveland's biggest need.
Justin Blackmon/Morris Claiborne would be better
When the Browns are finally on the clock in April, their choices will likely come down to Justin Blackmon, Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson. I've heard arguments for all three of these guys, and any of them would be filling an obvious need for years to come. The thing to remember is that the draft is all about value.
The gap between Blackmon and Michael Floyd? Not as large as originally anticipated.
Morris Claiborne and Janoris Jenkins? You are getting a solid starter either way and Haden is already cover corner number one.
The gap between Trent Richardson and Lamar Miller? The Grand Canyon. Night and Day.
This draft has plenty of receivers who could team up with Greg Little to form a formidable duo for years to come. There are plenty of corners that could team up with Joe Haden that will be available at 22 or 37 if the Browns choose to go that route. How many runningbacks in this draft can carry an offense? One, and that's something to get excited about.
Agreed...Richardson is too good to pass up. Although Claiborne gives the Brownies one of the best secondaries in a pass happy league; this will allow for man coverage and crowding the box to protect the run making other players look like superstars. However, I look for the Brownies to make a trade acquiring another 2nd round pick and only moving down to spot 5,6,7, or 8 and still landing Richardson, Claiborne, Blackmon, or Tannehill; hopefully not Tannehill!
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