2012 NFL Draft: Why Robert Griffin III Is a Top 3 Pick

You may or may not have read it here first, but take it to the bank: Robert Griffin III will not make it out of the top three picks in April's NFL draft. 

Griffin is just so jam-packed with ability that it will be hard for a team looking for a quarterback to not want to trade whatever it takes to get him. He has incredible arm strength and accuracy, he has good mechanics for a so-called "running quarterback," and he can make plays with his legs few players can. 

Imagine Michael Vick minus the character issues, and you get Griffin. 

What is helping a player like Griffin is the recent success of Cam Newton. There was once a stigma around quarterbacks who ran a lot in college, and Newton is bucking that trend. Newton's success will pave the way for not just RG3, but for a lot of other players who are considered "running" quarterbacks in college. 

A final reason as to why Griffin will be taken in the top three picks is the decision by Matt Barkley to return to USC. Teams like the Redskins, Seahawks, Dolphins or other franchises that are not quite bad enough to get a top-three pick will have to target RG3 in order to get a quarterback early in this draft. The huge drop-off from Griffin to the rest of the quarterback class will drive up his value. 

The bottom line is this: RG3 has even more upside than Andrew Luck, and some people may just be crazy enough to put him in contention for the first overall pick. 

That praise alone is why Griffin is not going to make it out of the first three picks of the 2012 NFL draft order.