The Washington Redskins executed the single trade necessary to turn their franchise around Friday night.
Redskins’ trade up for Robert Griffin will define three franchises
A story broke by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, the Redskins are sending picks six and 39 this year and their first-round picks in 2013 and 2014 to the St. Louis Rams for the second pick in this year's draft. That will allow the Redskins to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. The trade won't become official until Tuesday when the new league year begins.
It's true, the Redskins are giving up a huge amount of picks. The first time a team has traded three first-round picks for a draft pick. But don't forget their quarterbacks are Rex Grossman and John Beck. They have needs, but with Grossman and Beck none are greater than quarterback. That's especially true when there is player like Griffin available.
The Redskins have needed a true franchise quarterback for years. Even when they were great in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, it was with journeymen quarterbacks like Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. Not since Joe Theismann have the Redskins had a quarterback the caliber of what Griffin is expected to become. A player such as Griffin, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, will also help the team lure top-end free agents. Considering the picks they gave up, that will be a necessity over the next few years.
“If you’re Washington, and you haven’t had a quarterback in so long, you can’t pay too much for Griffin,” on NFL general manager told Peter King of Sports Illustrated Friday night.
It was revealed by Adam Schefter of ESPN that the Cleveland Browns made a late push with the Rams involving a similar number of picks. Despite the Browns having picks four and 22 and their disposal this year, the Rams decided to trade with the Redskins.
For the Browns, not making a trade for the No. 2 pick leads to myriad questions. Do the Browns give more time to incumbent starting quarterback Colt McCoy? He's been up and down in a season and a half of starts. It may also be difficult to show confidence in him after making a push for Griffin. Do the Browns target free agent Matt Flynn? That would go against the norm for general manager Tom Heckert, who has already said the team won't make big moves in free agency.
Most likely, the Browns will target either Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden with the 22nd pick in the first round. But are either franchise quarterbacks? Tannehill lacks experience at the position and Weeden will start his NFL career at 29 years old.
If Griffin becomes the superstar he’s expected, the resentment from Browns fans will be strong. The perception will be that the Browns’ front office didn’t press enough to make a trade. Of course, winning cures all, but the Browns have consistently been one of the league’s worst teams since returning to the NFL in 1999.
For the Rams, this trade represents opportunity. With a franchise quarterback in place already, the Rams now have plenty of chances to build around Sam Bradford.
The only questionable aspect of the trade for St. Louis is why they said no to the Browns. Schefter noted on SportsCenter Cleveland was willing to match the offer of three first-round picks. Given the Browns have the fourth pick and 22nd pick in this year’s draft, that would make the Browns’ offer more valuable.
See More:
