How much can an outstanding combine help a prospective NFL player?
Robert Griffin III is answering that question. To be fair, it’s not like he came out of nowhere. He did win the Heisman Trophy this year. But now it is clear that not only do folks think he was a good college player but also there are lots of people who are paid lots of money to evaluate pigskin talent thinking he is going to be the real deal in the NFL.
In a huge trade (which won’t be official until mid-next week due to NFL rules), the St. Louis Rams have agreed in principle to send the second overall pick in this year’s draft to the Washington Redskins for three first-round draft picks and a second-round pick. That’s THREE first round picks. One this year and two in the coming two years. I believe they call that mortgaging a team’s future. Clearly, though, the Redskins feel RGIII is worth it. And also as clear, Sam Bradford is the Rams quarterback for now and the foreseeable future.
Has Daniel Snyder, the enigmatic ownership of the ‘Skins, finally learned his lesson. After years of going after ridiculously high priced, veteran (read: out-of-shape and over-the-hill) talent, has the man everyone loves to hate learned to use the draft and bet on young, superbly talented players?
Not really. He’s made a concerted grasp for Peyton Manning the past few days. Manning, who is proving to be as shrewd in free agency as he is in shredding the N.Y. Jets defense, politely gave Daniel the snub.
So what does Mr. Snyder do instead? Only the blockbuster trade of the season so far. He does have a flair about him. That said, it does seem to make football sense too. You know, if RGIII performs like everyone expects.
In part of the trade, the Rams will receive the Redskins’ No. 6 overall pick, as well as the Redskins’ first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. The Rams will also receive Washington’s second-round pick this year in return for the second overall pick.
The deal moves the Redskins up four places from sixth in the upcoming April draft, positioning them ahead of any other team that would have an interest in Griffin III.
It is without a doubt a decisive move made by a team in desperate need of a franchise quarterback after two decades of mediocre play at best. Coach Mike Shanahan, once consider an offensive genius who could mold even an average quarterback into a potential Super Bowl MVP, has fallen back to pedestrian coach status in the last two years after going 11-22 with Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman and John Beck leading the offense.
Oh, and I guess a lot of the above is premised on RGIII not going to the Indianapolis Colts who still have the first pick. But who knows. Crazier things have happened during NFL springtime. Maybe Andrew Luck ends up in a D.C. uniform. There is still much drama to come – that is guaranteed.
