...The Washington Redskins select Robert Griffin III, quarterback, Baylor University.
Yes, folks, the Snyder machine has done it again. In the blockbuster move of the offseason so far, YOUR Washington Redskins have moved into the 2nd overall draft position this year, switching places with the St. Louis Rams. It is widely expected that the Redskins will take Griffin, who has shot up everyone's big boards this past year with his strong arm, excellent decision making, and smart mobility. Smart mobility means he's not just a one-read and run kind of QB. He goes through a progression, only running if necessary, but when he does run, he's a threat. Griffin has the potential to be the franchise type quarterback this franchise has been craving for decades. In that respect, I most definitely feel like the price we paid to move up in the draft was absolutely worth it.
OK, so I hear all the catcalls and maniacal laughter out there about how the Redskins have once again sold their souls, mortgaged their future, for one guy in their never-ending quest to find that "one guy" they need to get them over the hump. Meanwhile, all of the other one-guys we need keep adding up. I'm not going to give in to that argument this time, not with this guy. Yes I understand that he could very well be the next Akili Smith or Ryan Leaf and we just spent 3 first round picks for nothing. However, I feel like the Redskins needed to make this trade, and if you look at it, it's not as bad as it seems. It's not like we pulled a Ditka and gave up an entire draft to get just one guy. We gave up 1st round picks, sure, but that's why you have a scouting department. First round picks are just one pick of 7 (hypothetically). We still have several more picks to beef up other areas of need in the draft. And, if Griffin is as good as advertised, his value would far exceed 3 first round picks and a 2nd. For this reason, he is well worth the risk.
I'm not expecting Griffin to the savior in year 1, and I'm not even expecting a season like what Cam Newton had this year in Carolina. I do expect him to be thrown into the fire right away though because anybody would be an upgrade over the QB trifecta we had in 2011. Let the kid take his lumps in year one. I feel like it will be worth it because Griffin's mobility is likely to mask some of the deficiencies on the O-line, which will give the brass some time to make improvements in that area, as well as at receiver. Word on the street is that we are going to spend some our $40 million in cap room not on Peyton Manning, but on an A-class receiver like Vincent Jackson.
Speaking of Mr. Manning, his former team, the Colts, are most likely going to take Andrew Luck with the #1 pick. Having released Manning, they have made it clear that they are ready to move in a new direction. Now, there is no guarantee that the Colts have officially made up their minds with Luck. They could very well see something in Griffin that they never had before in Manning: mobility. The Colts could very well take Griffin #1, which means the Redskins better be prepared to take Luck at #2. Luck is quite the athlete, and very smart (as is Griffin), but the Redskins better make sure that they do their homework on him because if the Colts do decide to make RGIII #1 overall, the Redskins will be pigeonholed into Luck. They moved into the #2 position specifically so that they could draft a franchise quarterback. They will get one, but it's not guaranteed that it will be the one they really want. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it is enough of a possibility that we should be prepared either way.
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