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By Danny O'Neil
After two trades and 44 selections the Seahawks made their first choice in the draft, picking the third-fastest receiver at the scouting combine, Paul Richardson from Colorado.
The rationale: He's fast. Real fast, timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, which was better than all but two receivers at there.
He missed all of the 2012 season because of a knee injury, but caught 83 passes in 2013 for the Buffalos. He's an explosive athlete, his vertical leap measured at 38 inches.
Originally signed to UCLA, Richardson was dismissed from the program by then-coach Rick Neuheisel after an alleged theft.
The risk: He's skinny. Real skinny. He's going to need to bulk up in the NFL, but Seattle looks for touchdown-makers on the outside and Richardson is an explosive athlete with the speed to do that.
At the league's scouting combine in February, Richardson readily admitted he will need to bulk up.
"I've got to stay smart," he said, "continue to gain weight and continue to get stronger and even faster so I can be able to compete at a high level."
Richardson is also going to have to play his way into the rotation at wide receiver as not only is Percy Harvin expected to be healthy and Sidney Rice is back, but Jermaine Kearse emerged over the course of last season.
Chris Harper, Seattle's fourth-round pick last year, didn't make the team a year ago coming out of training camp.