The Baltimore Ravens continue to look for potential answers at the running back position under every possible rock, behind every available corner. Ever since Ray Rice's implosion, the Ravens have been looking for a new every-down back to carry the load alongside quarterback Joe Flacco. Veteran journeyman Justin Forsett has been a pleasant surprise and absolutely earned every penny of his three-year, $9 million contract after his 1,200-yard, 8 touchdown campaign in 2014.
But Forsett is also 30 and coming off a season in which he suffered a significant injury. And while guys like Lorenzo Taliaferro, Javorius Allen and Terrance West represent youth, talent and potential, it's clear that Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh feel the search for the next great Baltimore back must go on.
It seems the latest potential suitor will be none other than former first-round pick, Cleveland Brown, Indianapolis Colt and Oakland Raider, Trent Richardson.
Per Harbaugh, who has kept up with Richardson via text message, the plan remains for the bulky ballcarrier - a guy the team was "expected" to sign in February - to join the Ravens in the near future.
"I'm planning on Trent being a Raven right now," Harbaugh said at the NFL's owner's meetings. "We have an unofficial agreement with Trent. Hopefully, no one will come in and swoop him away from us."
It's not really clear what an "unofficial agreement" means, but it's obvious that Harbaugh at least believes there's something there with which to work.
And really, it's not hard to see why. After excelling at Alabama for three seasons and performing well during pre-draft testing, Richardson became the third-overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Browns. But after a promising rookie year in which he managed 950 yards and a whopping 11 touchdowns on 267 attempts, Richardson's production evaporated.
It turns out, the Browns' use of Richardson almost exclusively near the goal line masked many of his issues. By 2013, Richardson was a Colt. By 2015, he was a Raider.
By the start of last year's regular season, Richardson was out of the NFL altogether.
Despite his talent, Richardson has failed to make his mark in the NFL due mostly to his conditioning, or lack thereof. Richardson's career-best 3.6 yard-per-carry average is a glaring testament to that fact.
Harbaugh hopes that this will be the opportunity that Richardson finally seizes.
"It's in Trent's court. Ozzie and Trent have talked a lot. I text with Trent all the time. He's keeping me posted on his training," Harbaugh said. "I'm kind of excited about it. Talking on the phone, I really liked him. He's a high-caliber, high-draft pick guy and it seems like he's really motivated. Wants to do well."
