2012 NFL Draft: Does Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III Have More Value?

It's certainly a great debate as both Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are worthy of being the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

But who has more value?

Well, first we must break each player down in order to find the answer. So, here goes.

Andrew Luck

What gives Andrew Luck a distinct advantage over Robert Griffin is that he could have been the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. And had he been eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft, you can bet some teams would have selected him by the middle rounds at the latest.

For his career, Luck compiled 9,430 passing yards and 957 rushing yards while accounting for 82 passing and seven rushing touchdowns. He threw just 22 interceptions and finished with a 66.1 completion percentage. In not having any insanely touted receivers, these numbers are staggering for just three seasons.

Luck's 6'4" 235 pound frame also makes him quite ready for the NFL. He's bigger than John Elway, arguably moves better and is smarter. Not to mention his intangibles are second to none.

Perhaps the more impressive aspect about Luck is how well he and Stanford performed in 2011 after losing their head coach Jim Harbaugh. Any time a new guy takes over, even if it's an offensive coach like David Shaw, it usually has an adverse affect on young players.

Luck's leadership is what really kept the Cardinal together. He's basically like a coach on the field. Include him being a two-time Heisman finalist among other great collegiate accolades, and it's no surprise to see Luck at the top of the board.

Robert Griffin III

The only thing that really hurts Robert Griffin III is that Baylor isn't a known football powerhouse. Now, Stanford hasn't been much more of a powerhouse, but the Cardinal does have more tradition than the Bears.

That being said, RG3 came bursting on the college football scene in 2011 and never looked back. Most fair-weather fans were unaware of him. While Baylor was 7-6 in 2010, to most it was just another year behind Oklahoma and Co. in the Big 12 South.

Then, 2011 happened. Baylor finished 10-3, beat Oklahoma, Texas, TCU and were No. 3 in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Not bad for a team many didn't recognize as a traditional college football powerhouse.

And when Robert Griffin won the Heisman, Baylor came on the map. For his career, RG3 collected 10,366 passing and 2,257 rushing yards. He threw 78 touchdowns to just 17 picks and added 33 rushing touchdowns.

Griffin never threw more than eight picks in one college season, finished 2011 with a 72.4 completion percentage and 66.12 completion percentage overall.

With virtually no help, Griffin accounted for almost 5,000 total yards this season and is a true pocket passer. That his 2009 season was cut short due to injury is the only flag of concern.

So Who Has More Value?

By the slimmest of all possible margins, Andrew Luck has more value.

The reason is because he could have been the No. 1 overall selection a year ago and then is slated to be that in 2012. So, being the NFL's top prospect two straight seasons as well as a two-time Heisman finalist is hard to compare with.

Make no mistake about it. Robert Griffin III will have an excellent NFL career. However, with Luck having not dealt with any kind of serious injuries on top of everything else, Luck gets a slight edge of Griffin.

Any way you slice it, both are going to have good (at the very least) NFL careers, and it will be very exciting to watch both at the next level.