Lost in all the madness of the Trent Richardson trade to the Indianapolis Colts is the financial ramifications involving the second year running back.
Richardson who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2012 draft signed a four-year 20.5 million deal, and received a hefty signing bonus on par for a player selected in his slot.
Adam Schefter reported that the Browns did in fact pay Richardson a $13.3 million signing bonus that they won’t be getting back.
When Browns signed RB Trent Richardson, they gave him a $13,341,672 signing bonus. Money's gone, gone, gone.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 19, 2013
Cleveland paid Richardson the bonus knowing that they would actually owe him a little over $6.6 million for the remaining years on his deal.
Richardson has already been paid two game checks under his 2013 base salary ($1.327 million). That’s right Indianapolis is only on the hook for few million on Richardson’s deal for the next three season.
2013: $1,156,185
2014: $2,252,708
2015: $3,184,062
The Browns avoid paying the $6 million to Richardson, but with two first round picks and a non competitive bunch, expect Cleveland to dish out a hefty signing bonus again next season.
The Browns essentially donated $13 million to Trent Richardson for 1 year of football, saved the Colts from having to pay a hefty tag in a first round signing bonus, and gave them time to get great mileage out of Richardson before talks of an extension are raised.