While stockpiling high picks in a deep draft might be a savvy move, the Browns still sent the wrong message to both their hard-luck fans and their own players with Wednesday night’s shocking trade of Trent Richardson to the Colts.
Sure, the Browns are 0-2 and probably going nowhere this year after ugly opening losses to the Dolphins and Ravens. But dealing the former No. 3 overall pick — and a promising one, at that — just 17 games into his career for what is likely to be a mid-range choice at best in a draft eight months away tells everyone you’re writing off an entire season before September is even up.
New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who’s already in more than bit of trouble with the FBI and IRS over alleged widespread fraud in his truck-stop business, is now defrauding his season-ticket holders.
Sure, the Browns might finally end up with the franchise quarterback they have lacked since the franchise was revived in 1999. This looks like an excellent draft for that position with Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and UCLA’s Brett Hundley expected to be available.
But as Browns fans have learned (over and over), there is rarely a sure thing in the draft. And that’s especially true with the new management team of ex-Eagles president Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi, who was an abject failure in the same role under Bill Belichick with the old Browns.
The Colts are a talented team, so the first-round pick they gave up could very well be in the bottom 10. And even if the Browns turn around and trade the pick to move up, was it worth giving up a proven producer like Richardson? No.
Richardson has his critics, of course. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie and was scuffling at 3.1 yards per rush in two games this year. The Alabama product has just two runs of 20-plus yards in his entire NFL career.
But Richardson also posted rookie numbers identical to Emmitt Smith’s, scoring 11 touchdowns for one the league’s most points-challenged offenses, which lacked a quarterback capable of taking pressure off the running game.
Richardson’s skeptics say he lacks vision, wiggle and burst, but it’s folly to render final judgement on an offensive skill player before he has reached the halfway point of his second season.
This was a terrific addition by the Colts. Credit to owner Jim Irsay for trying to win now for his fans. The deal might pay off for the Browns in the long run, but in the short term, it’s an embarrassing white flag. Their poor fans deserve better.