At last, the Ravens have signed running back Trent Richardson.
The deal was finalized Monday morning as the offseason strength and conditioning program kicked off.
Talk of Richardson signing with the Ravens began in February at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the two sides have been in contact since. Richardson reportedly first worked out for the Ravens in early March.
Richardson continued his offseason training to shed pounds before flying to Baltimore Sunday night for one final check-in before signing, according to Alabama Media Group.
It's a new start for Richardson, who had a quick fall from the spotlight.
Richardson spent last year out of the NFL after being the No. 3 overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft. Two games into his second season, the Browns traded him to Indianapolis. Richardson spent two years there before becoming a free agent in 2015. He signed with Oakland that offseason but didn't make the Raiders' roster out of training camp, in part because of injuries.
Richardson struggled to keep his weight down during his first four seasons, which played a part in his 3.3-yard rushing average.
Still, he's a very talented back who, if given the right motivation and training, could find his old form. As Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome is well aware of, Richardson had a stellar career at the University of Alabama, where he rushed for 3,243 yards and 35 touchdowns in three seasons.
Richardson joins a crowded Ravens backfield with Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Terrance West and Lorenzo Taliaferro, making Richardson's spot on the 53-man roster no guarantee come September.
