Now that the NFL Draft Combine is over and the rest of the country is in love with Robert Griffin III, it is now clear that the Heisman Trophy winner will be the second pick in April’s selection meeting.
Besides the Browns (and we still aren’t convinced that Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert want Griffin), the other teams said to be on the RGIII train are the Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.
Other teams could be in the mix too, such as Kansas City, Seattle, and Tennessee.
The biggest winner in this scenario are the St. Louis Rams, who have the second pick, and also already have their franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, the overall #1 pick in 2010.
So, if Cleveland likes and wants the rookie from Baylor, there is no doubt the Browns have to trade up. Hoping he will fall to #4 won’t work.
There is no question the Browns are in the best position to move up, as they have a pick in the top five and another at #22, the pick acquired from Atlanta last year.
None of the other teams who should be interested in a passer has those types of picks.
Remember that the NFL’s free agency period will be before the draft, so a couple of teams in need with drop out after Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn find new places to play.
The fear is that Washington will go crazy and offer first round picks for the next three years to move up from #6 to get to the second pick in the draft.
If you’re the Browns, you have to say no to that, unless you can keep the pick at #22.
At that point, it really depends on how quickly the Rams want to get better. If new coach Jeff Fisher wants to get better as quickly as possible, then dropping down two spots and gaining another first round choice would be the thing to do.
If they want to take a chance on the Redskins having another bad season, and feel next year’s Washington pick can be in the top ten, then the “Skins might be the way to go.
At what point do the Browns have to say no?
A fair package to move up two spots for a potential franchise quarterback would be the 22nd pick this year (along with swapping the 4th pick for the 2nd pick), a third rounder this year and a second rounder next season.
That way the Browns would be able to add some quality players to have around Griffin, and not have no other pick until #100 in the fourth round.
With two picks in the 4th round, GM Tom Heckert would have ammunition to move up into the 3rd round if they see someone they like.
If they need to sweeten the pot, Heckert could always throw in another later round pick next year.
That’s not too much if you believe Robert Griffin III can and will be your franchise quarterback.
There is no doubt that because Cleveland has an extra first round pick this year, that they are in the best position to move up. But that doesn’t mean St. Louis has to deal with them.
It’s the same as free agent bidding, it only takes one idiot to go wild and be willing to pay too high of a price.
The Browns have to be willing to go a little higher than normal if they think they can change the future of the franchise in this year’s draft by getting the man everyone wants.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 