2012 NFL Draft Order: Most Likely Candidates to Trade Up for Robert Griffin III

Matt Barkley hates America.

If he would’ve just entered the 2012 NFL draft, the class would be loaded with four first-round caliber quarterback prospects.  Now, there’s only three: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Landry Jones.  Luck is guaranteed to be selected first overall, which means every other team that needs a QB is going to be on the phone with the Minnesota Vikings trying to jump the Browns and steal the Heisman winner.

Here are the top five candidates to trade up for RGIII on Day 1 of the draft.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassell is good enough to lead the Chiefs to the playoffs with talent around him, but he isn’t a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback.  It isn’t their biggest need, but if Kansas City’s new head coach wants his guy, he’ll have to trade up for him.  Settling for Jones isn’t an option, because he’ll be gone by the time they’re on the clock.

4. Miami Dolphins

Matt Moore is a capable starting quarterback, but the Dolphins are never going to win a Super Bowl with him under center.  It would be in their best interest to at least select a QB to groom behind Moore for a year.  If the new head coach isn’t a fan of Jones, then trading up for Griffin is their next best option.

3. Cleveland Browns

While other teams could attempt to leapfrog the Browns, Cleveland may just leapfrog the competition.  They realistically could swap picks with the St. Louis Rams at No. 2 to guarantee themselves that Griffin will be Ohio-bound.  Every Browns fan in America is dreaming of Griffin and Kendall Wright reuniting on their favorite team.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle will just be a coming team, not an up-and-coming team, until they find a respectable quarterback.  Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst are not the answer.  At No. 12, Jones isn’t an option, so they’ll be in contact with the Vikings.

1. Washington Redskins

Washington is a talented football team overall, but Rex Grossman and John Beck are horrible.  The pair of pitiful passers is holding back this franchise, and Griffin is what they need to turn the ship around.  Mike Shanahan’s ego is too big to reach for Jones at No. 6, so they’ll either trade back for Jones or trade up for RGIII.

Here is the current first-round draft order.

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Washington Redskins
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Miami Dolphins
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Seattle Seahawks
12. Kansas City Chiefs
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Dallas Cowboys
15. Philadelphia Eagles
16. New York Jets
17. Cincinnati Bengals
18. San Diego Chargers
19. Chicago Bears
20. Tennessee Titans
21. Denver Broncos
22. New York Giants
23. Cincinnati Bengals
24. Houston Texans
25. Cleveland Browns
26. Detroit Lions
27. Pittsburgh Steelers
28. Baltimore Ravens
29. New England Patriots
30. San Francisco 49ers
31. New England Patriots
32. Green Bay Packers

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels