Some mocks for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft have the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Trent Richardson as the top running back available. The thought process usually follows the thread that he’ll be the top value on the board with some people comparing the Alabama star to Adrian Peterson of the Vikings. Given the Chiefs need in the backfield for someone to pair with Jamaal Charles, coming off of an ACL injury, the pick could make sense.
Except most people actually have Richardson going in the top five or six choices in the draft because he’s so heralded. While a few have him falling to No. 11 or 12, the common response is a higher draft stock. But with the news dropping in the last 24 hours about a surgical procedure for Richardson that will limit his involvement at the NFL Combine, he might be on the board for the Chiefs after all.
Mike Florio writes, “Every year, an injury surprise pops up in connection with the Scouting Combine. This year, the first surprise comes from Alabama running back Trent Richardson. According to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, Richardson suffered a knee injury in practice preceding the BCS national championship game last month. As a result, he had “minor” arthroscopic surgery on the knee, and Richardson will not participate in on-field drills in Indy.”
Then it might be the kind of setback that Dre Kirkpatrick had after an arrest for possession of marijuana and the charges were later dropped. Now Kirkpatrick is still celebrated and most believe the charges will not affect his stock. It’s a hiccup on a resume and anyone can find something on anyone else if they look hard enough. If Richardson displays the same skills at Alabama’s Pro Day, he will likely go where he was going to all along.