Richardson Agrees to $20.4 Million Deal With Browns, ESPN Says

The Cleveland Browns and top draft pick Trent Richardson agreed to a contract that will pay the running back $20.4 million over four years, ESPN reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the negotiations.

Richardson’s deal is fully guaranteed and includes a $13.3 million signing bonus, ESPN said. Browns spokesman Neal Gulkis said in an e-mail that the team has yet to reach an agreement with Richardson, who was the third overall pick in April’s National Football League draft.

Richardson, who rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior at the University of Alabama last year, was the first running back taken among the top three picks in the NFL draft since Reggie Bush in 2006.

The Browns traded up one spot to draft Richardson, seeking to improve a rushing attack that ranked 28th out of 32 teams in the NFL last season. Cleveland’s four rushing touchdowns were the fewest in the league.

The Browns are also close to finalizing a contract with their second first-round draft pick, quarterback Brandon Weeden, ESPN said. Weeden, the 22nd pick, would receive a four-year contract worth about $8.1 million, according to ESPN.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Matuszewski in New York at matuszewski@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net