Baltimore Ravens to sign RB Trent Richardson

The Baltimore Ravens are in the midst of signing former first-round pick Trent Richardson, pending a physical.

The Ravens are expecting Trent Richardson to join the team pending a physical. He was out of football last season, just three years after the Cleveland Browns selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

The Heisman Trophy finalist as a junior with Alabama in 2011 rushed for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie with the Browns in 2012. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2013, and in 20 starts with the Colts, he tallied just 977 yards. Richardson signed with the Oakland Raiders last March, but did not make the team.

There is no secret that Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome has an affection for players from his alma mater. Richardson was huge during Bama’s national championship run, becoming the first SEC running back to rush for 20 or more touchdowns in a single season.

Where he fits in with the Ravens is unknown. They already have Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Javorius Allen on the roster. They also have Terrence West in the mix. They be giving Taliaferro some competition as they could use Richardson as the short-yardage back.

Being out of football for a year does not help his chances. Maybe the time off helped his body recuperate as many felt his diminished play was because of being overused while at Alabama. However, I feel as though if he could not make the Raiders roster, there is little chance he makes the Ravens.

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This is Ozzie giving an Alabama player a chance, but it’s hard to imagine him making the 53-man roster. Maybe Richardson shocks us all and becomes the talent that was expected when he was drafted in the first round, just don’t expect it. Nonetheless, the Ravens are trying anything to get back to being a winning team.