50 years after trading for Ernie Davis the Browns have selected running back Trent Richardson with their first selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. Richardson, who was widely regarded as the best non-quarterback prospect in this year’s draft will dawn a Cleveland Uniform.

The Browns decided that they could not risk a team like Tampa Bay to trade with Minnesota for the chance to draft Richardson.

The Browns swapped first round picks and sent a 4th, 5th, and 7th round selections to Minnesota in order to ensure they got him.

 Richardson will provide a much needed piece of Cleveland’s offensive puzzle as the team struggled last year winning only 4 games. They were ranked 29th in total offense and 30th in run offense doing little to move the ball up and down the field. Richardson is an all-around back who can stay on the field on all three downs. He has great hands and finishes runs always moving forward. At 5-11, 224 pounds, Richardson is like a bowling ball with wheels.

 With the selection of Richardson, this is the first time in the history of the Cleveland Browns franchise that they have taken a running back in the top five. Even the great Jim Brown was select 6th overall in the 1957 draft. The bar is set high for the young man who grew up from Pensacola Florida, but Richardson has the talent to be one of the all-time greats.