NFL Mock Draft 2012 euphemism update: Recently Trent Richardson has been described in a few mocks as an especially reliable or sure-thingy choice in a top-of-the-draft that seems already to be filled with them. Richardson might be a great prospect—certainly the best running back—but what they really mean when they say that is this: Running backs are at their best in the first few years of their career, before their legs are crushed underneath them and they're forced out of football on crutches at 27.
Which is good if you'd like to win now, and all you're missing is a running back. Or if you have a lot of weapons for your young quarterback but you're missing a change-of-pace that can keep the pressure off him.
But: Neither of those describes the St. Louis Rams. Richardson is a great running back prospect, band the Rams will eventually need a new one. But now's not the time, and No. 6 overall is not the place.
More NFL Mock Draft updates from the Trent Richardson skeptics at SB Nation St. Louis:
- For some reason ESPN believes Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck could switch places.
- For some number of reasons we believe Justin Blackmon and the Rams will get together—but at what cost?
- For that reason, Michael Floyd might fall further than expected in the draft.