With Sunday's decision deadline looming, it looks like RG3 is going pro.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Heisman Trophy-winning Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, who Redskins fans are salivating over, has decided to enter the NFL Draft.
Is it a surprise? No, but it gives 'Skins fans more reason to pay close interest to the festivities.
The Redskins have the No. 6 pick in the draft, but depending on how RG3 performs in the pre-draft workouts, he could go a lot higher. Which means the 'Skins would have to trade up to get him.
Many believe the Colts will take QB Andrew Luck with the first pick in the draft. St. Louis is at No. 2, but they already have Sam Bradford. The Vikings, led by Christian Ponder, pick third, followed by the Browns at No. 4. That's where things get dicey if you're a Redskins fan. Cleveland, like most of America, isn't sold on Colt McCoy, so they could have interest in RG3. Tampa Bay picks at No. 5, and they, too, could be interested in Griffin after another sub-par performance by Josh Freeman.
So the consensus may be that the Skins have to move up to the No. 2 slot to secure RG3. TheHogs.net uses some fancy math to predict that Washington would have to give up two first-round picks and a second-round pick to get the No. 2 overall pick.
And we quote:
Sports
The draft value chart says that the Rams number two pick is worth 2600 points. The Redskins number six pick is worth 1600 points. So that’s a difference of 1000 points.
Typically 1000 points would net the Rams at least an extra 1st rounder, as you can see on the chart that the 16th overall pick is worth 1000 points. Then there’s the discussion on what next year’s picks are worth as it relates to the chart, and obviously teams don’t have the luxury of knowing exactly where in the round their trade partner will pick. Typically, if a team needed to throw in a third round pick this year, they’d have to make it a second round pick next year. So the Redskins will have to give up at least next year’s first round pick, and they will probably have to sweeten the deal considerably from that – perhaps this year’s first and second, as well as next year’s first, and a mid-to-late round pick on top of that.
The crazy thing is, if the Rams don’t pick RGIII or trade to someone who does, the third pick goes down to 2200 points. That’s only 600 points away from the Redskins 1600 points. The Redskins second round pick would be worth 520 points – so now we’re getting really close in ‘value.’ That would put the Redskins just 80 points away – about the value of a mid-fourth round pick.
NFLMocks.com suggests that the Redskins won't pick a QB in Round 1, but will instead grab Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick, and then pick Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill in Round 2.
Meanwhile, Riggo's Rag says the X-factor is Matt Flynn -- the backup QB in Green Bay.
Should the Browns acquire Flynn, the Redskins would have a much greater opportunity at getting RG3. Flynn seems to be able to run an NFL offense as well as anybody and could be a viable option for the Browns and possibly even the Redskins should Cleveland select Griffin. This is all just speculation though and could easily be undone as fast as the “Newton to the Redskins at pick ten” news from a year ago this time. One way or another Washington will get their guy, Mike Shanahan’s career depends on it.
So there you have it, folks. A whole lot of scenarios and a muddled mess. Unless, of course, your Twitter name is @heirgarebear:
Book it.
