The Trent Richardson trade still haunts the Colts

In honor of the Steelers getting a bafflingly low return for one of the best receivers in the game, we re-visit a time where the Colts got a horrible return in a trade of their own just a few years ago.

The Steelers traded Antonio Brown to the Raiders late last night for a third round and a fifth round pick in this year’s draft. That is an absurdly low return for possibly the best receiver in the game. But they aren’t alone in making a trade like that.

Back in 2014, the Colts made a gaffe of their own. They traded a first round pick to the Browns for Trent Richardson. At the time, the Colts seemed like they made a coup and finally got their franchise running back. But over the course of the year, that was quickly debunked.

That trade still haunts the franchise today. It set the Colts back two years in the development of Andrew Luck because of who they could have taken with that first round pick. Joel Bitonio was taken just 9 picks behind the selection the Colts had, a tackle who has made the Pro Bowl.

If it makes Colts fans feel any better, the Brown parlayed that first round pick into Johnny Manziel, which everyone knows was a disaster. But the Colts screwed up big time, there’s no doubt about it. Richardson isn’t even in the league anymore. He’s playing in the AAF.

That was the beginning of the end for former GM Ryan Grigson. He made outlandish and careless moves that set the franchise back years. It ultimately cost his job. But perhaps no move sticks with Colts fans more than this terrible trade.