Harbaugh Expects Ravens To Sign Trent Richardson

Back in February, a report indicated that the Ravens were expected to add running back Trent Richardson to their roster. A signing didn’t happen when Richardson paid a visit to Baltimore, but speaking on Tuesday morning at the NFL owners’ meeting, head coach John Harbaugh said that he still expects the veteran back to eventually become a Raven.Trent Richardson

As Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details (via Twitter), the Ravens have an unofficial agreement in place with the 25-year-old. The Ravens want Richardson to get in better shape and reach a physical benchmark — if and when he does, Baltimore will sign him, per Zrebiec. Harbaugh is hoping another team doesn’t swoop in and sign him before that happens, notes Todd Archer of ESPN.com.

Richardson, the third overall selection in the 2012 draft, lasted just over a year with the Browns, having been dealt to the Colts for a first-round pick early in the 2013 campaign. Richardson was underwhelming, to say the least, during his time in Indianapolis, recording 977 yards and six touchdowns on 316 rushing attempts across two seasons, while adding 55 receptions for 494 yards and a TD in 29 games (20 starts). During his time wearing blue and white, the Alabama product averaged just 3.1 yards per carry.

Richardson’s time in Indianapolis came to an unceremonious end when the Colts waived him after hitting him with a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team at the end of the 2014 season. Less than a week after he was let go, the Raiders swooped in and signed him, but Oakland ultimately cut Richardson prior to the 2015 season and he hasn’t been on an NFL roster since then.

Assuming the Ravens finalize a deal with Richardson in the coming weeks, he would join a group of Baltimore running backs that includes Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, and Lorenzo Taliaferro, so he’d likely have an uphill battle when it comes to earning a spot on the 53-man roster.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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