NFL Draft Prospect: The Paul Richardson File
By Jeff Magnia
Sep 1, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Paul Richardson (6) during the game against the Colorado State Rams at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys as of late have taken a page from Walmart companies and search for the best product for the cheapest price. Looking at the late rounds, I see Dallas selecting a wide receiver to complement Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams. By the time summer rolls around, the plans are to jettison Miles Austin so with picking another receiver, this will become more of a reality.
After combing through the picks, I found a player that Jerry Jones would love. Sarcasm aside, this kid is a productive player but also has had injury issues. To give you a better feel, Jones loves those players that can’t be as durable so they can be at a cheaper price. Sean Lee and DeMarco Murray are prime examples. If both of those players were durable, they would be a hot commodity.
Paul Richardson fits the Jerry Jones mold of a player perfectly as a 2nd/3rd round selection and that is why I see him in a Cowboy uniform come fall of 2014. Richardson played collegiately at Colorado caught 83 balls for 1,343 yards with 10 touchdowns 2013. In 2012, he sat out the season with an ACL tear but the season prior, he caught 39 passes for 555 yards and 5 touchdowns. His freshman season in 2010, he caught 34 passes for 514 yards and had 6 touchdowns, according to sports-reference.com. CBSSports.com lists him as 6-1 and 172 lbs while running a 4.5-40 yard dash, he has the rare combination of speed and size that teams in the NFL crave. His injury during his junior season hurt his draft value but his recovery has been well documented as a success with his senior season numbers.
The Colorado college website has stated that he is a two-time All-American selection from collegefootballnews.com. His freshman year he was a second team selection and sophomore year, he was given an honorable mention. Impressive for a youngster at that level, he would be a good fit with the talent already on hand at Dallas. I can see him starting out as a fourth wide out with Bryant and Williams holding down the outside with either Beasley or Harris and Richardson taking care of the slot positions. His height and speed will give him the advantage against the linebackers or defensive backs covering him. CBSSports.com says he has good vision to setup blocks and he has some pedigree in the position. His father, Paul Sr. was a receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, and New York Jets.
His slim build is seen as a drawback but give him a few Texas steaks and mashed potatoes that will cure that and then some. Adding about 15 pounds of muscle to his build will help with his frame and perhaps the durability. Another weakness scouted was his ability to track the ball over his shoulder. That is a simple fix…teach and practice. Teach him the correct way and then let the backup quarterback throw about a 100 balls to him that are over the shoulder until his comfort level and confidence is where it should be.
If Dallas could pick this kid up along with some solid defensive draft picks, this could be a building draft. With last year’s addition of Wiliams, J.J. Wilcox, and Travis Frederick we could see Dallas improving themselves tenfold over the next couple of seasons. Wilcox will have to prove himself in the OTA’s and training camp so the verdict is still out but with Frederick, he has proven to be well worth the first round pick despite firsthand objections. We never know but Dallas could be a playoff contender in 2014 and like many winning teams, it starts with the draft.