In response to my Trent Richardson Trade Scenario post, I saw a lot of bad information thrown out as evidence against the trade. So, I decided to go back and look at Running Backs taken in the Top 10 and how they've fared - DraftHistory.com.

What you will see is that for the most part, spending a top 10 pick on a running back is one of the safest moves a team can make. If you look through the later rounds, even round 2 - 3, maybe only 1/10 2nd and 3rd round backs even start after 3 years.

So trading up for a high pick like Trent Richardson, who is a high character guy, is really really safe.

Below are Top 10 Running backs taken since 1978 (modern offense era):

Year Name

2010 C.J. Spiller

2008 Darren McFadden

2007 Adrian Peterson

2006 Reggie Bush

2005 Ronnie Brown

2005 Cedric Benson

2005 Cadillac Williams

2001 LaDainian Tomlinson

2000 Jamal Lewis

2000 Thomas Jones

1999 Edgerrin James

1999 Ricky Williams

1998 Curtis Enis

1998 Fred Taylor

1996 Lawrence Phillips

1996 Tim Biakabutuka

1995 Ki-Jana Carter

1994 Marshall Faulk

1993 Garrison Hearst

1993 Jerome Bettis

1992 Tommy Vardell

1990 Blair Thomas

1989 Barry Sanders

1989 Tim Worley

1989 Sammie Smith

1989 Bobby Humphrey

1987 Alonzo Highsmith

1987 Brent Fullwood

1986 Bo Jackson

1986 Keith Byars

1984 Mike Rozier

1983 Eric Dickerson

1983 Curt Warner

1983 Michael Haddix

1982 Darrin Nelson

1982 Gerald Riggs

1982 Marcus Allen

1981 George Rogers

1981 Freeman McNeil

1980 Billy Sims

1980 Curtis Dickey

1979 Ottis Anderson

1978 Earl Campbell

1978 Terry Miller

As you can see, a top 10 Running back is pretty much a sure thing unless there is a major injury or character/criminal issues. In fact, rarely to NFL teams mis-grade a RB prospect on talent: the last two wrong evaluations on Top 10 RBs were Touchdown Tommy Vardell and Blair Thomas 20 years ago!