Running back Trent Richardson went from being a first round pick to a trading chip.

Just 17 months after Richardson was drafted third overall, the Cleveland Browns shipped him to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a first round pick in next year's NFL draft. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the trade.

The Browns are in the process of rebuilding, but what sets them apart is that they are doing so openly without any fear. Many teams take precaution when discussing the idea of rebuilding to make sure that current fans are not alienated or led to believe that the team is just throwing the current season away by looking too far into the future.

Browns CEO Joe Banner did not shy away from talking about the team's intentions with the trade.

"I don't want to tip our hands, but it puts us in a very good position to have made some good progress in the off-season, we're in good (salary) cap shape," Banner said. "We're positioning ourselves to build a team that is good and sustainable."

Meanwhile, Richardson did not see it coming. He had a decent year last year considering that he played through injuries, and this year the team only had two games so it was hard to tell how he would do this time around. It wasn't much of a surprise that he was traded this early since the trade deadline is only a few weeks away.

"I can't believe it. I didn't see it coming anywhere," he said. "I guess it was the best move for the Browns," he said. "I wanted to be a Brown, I didn't see it coming but at the same time I'm a Colt now and have to get ready for Sunday's game."

Richardson will suit up with the Colts for the first time this weekend when Indy makes the trip to the west coast to take on the NFC's San Francisco 49ers.