Rapid Reactions Heading into Week Three
By: Matt Harmon
Browns trade Trent Richardson to the Colts for a 2014 first round pick
There is a ton to discuss about this shocking trade. So, let's break down how it looks for both teams.
Browns perspectives:
Browns trade Trent Richardson to the Colts for a 2014 first round pick
There is a ton to discuss about this shocking trade. So, let's break down how it looks for both teams.
Browns perspectives:
- Just about any way you shake it this trade looks bad for the Browns. Just last summer the Browns traded up to the third overall selection for the rights to select Richardson, a player many billed as the most talented running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. To give up on such a highly touted player after only one year does not seem like a very wise move to me. Richardson has not really lived up to his high billing, but you still have to consider him one of the Browns two or three best players, at least. Trading such a player only two games into your season sends a really bad message, that the team is giving up on the season, not only to your fans, but also the players. If the coaching staff and front office are giving up, why shouldn't the players? How can the Browns expect the players to give it their all in that scenario? I understand the explanations for why the Browns made this move; they want to assure that they are loaded up with picks for the 2014 draft with the idea that they will nab a franchise quarterback. That plan is far from a sure thing. If they do not have the number one pick, it is likely that whichever team does will not be swayed out of the spot no matter how many picks the Browns posses. What if Teddy Bridgewater, the consensus top quarterback, decides to stay in school for his senior year? Also, in terms of simple draft pick compensation, Richardson was a third overall pick, the selection they received from the Colts will likely be a selection in the twenties or late teens at best. Overall, I really do not like this trade for the Browns.
- I am a little iffy on this trade for the Colts as well. Look here's the deal, if Richardson is the player we all thought coming out of college, then this is a no brainer for the Colts. That player would be much better than anyone the Colts would be selecting with their mid-first round pick next April. As I have mentioned though, he has been slightly underwhelming as a pro thus far. You can,of course, make the argument he was held back being on a bad Browns team, but then you concede he is not a transcendent talent like we thought. Nevertheless, Andrew Luck could really use a potent presence in the back field and Richardson brings more potential for that than Ahmad Bradshaw and Vic Ballard did. This move has big time boom potential for the Colts, and for that reason i support this move in the end. There is just a certain "keep your fingers crossed feel" to it.
