NFL Draft: Paul Richardson Will Be Seattle Seahawks’ Equivalent to DeSean Jackson

Sep 7, 2013; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver

(6) pulls in a long reception for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Central Arkansas Bears at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Buffaloes didn’t do much this past season on the football field, but when they did wide receiver Paul Richardson was almost always involved. Richardson is now a Seattle Seahawk after being selected at No. 45.

John Schneider is known for his willingness to trade back, so the Hawks moved back twice to add some depth to their draft and per usual still got a terrific player to add to the depth of their team. After bringing back Sidney Rice a couple of weeks ago, most believed that Seattle was going to use their first pick on an offensive or defensive lineman.

The Seahawks are believed to have wanted Dominique Easley from Florida, but when he went at No. 29 to the Patriots they moved back into the second round. After the second move to add yet another pick later in the draft, they jumped on Richardson.

Believe it or not, the Colorado star makes the Seahawks even faster offensively. The experts described him as “slight in build” and “smallish” at 6’0″, 175 lbs, but more than one thing stands out about Richardson. The obvious first thing that comes to mind is true 4.3 forty-yard dash speed. With top-end speed already on the field in Percy Harvin and Ricardo Lockette, there simply isn’t a defensive backfield that will be able to match Seattle’s offense on the outside.

The second thing that stands out is the possibility as a punt returner. With Golden Tate heading to Detroit, the Hawks were in need of a play-maker there and Richardson fits the bill as a very explosive athlete. Speaking of Tate, we all remember some of the terrific catches he made. Richardson made some of the most acrobatic and ridiculous catches you’ll ever see at CU and brings even more speed to the position on the outside, there just isn’t. All of that transfers well to returning punts, so we’ll see there but we can expect Richardson to at least get a shot at the job initially.

Personally, I just love Paul Richardson. He has been one of the receivers I’ve been hoping for leading up to the draft over the past two months. HERE I called Richardson one of the picks Seattle could make to become one of the most explosive six-deep receiving cores in the NFL. HERE I listed him as a wishlist item for the Seahawks. HERE I was talking about the misconceptions of the needs at WR for this team and while it was technically driven towards a “need” for DeSean Jackson, everything I talked about applies to Richardson.

I love the guy and think he is a huge addition for Russell Wilson and the Seattle offense. If you watch him on tape you can see it, every issue they brought up with Jackson is something they brought up with Richardson.

Message to the NFL: Watch Out for Paul Richardson. The Seahawks offense is back, better and faster than ever.