NFL Draft 2012: 4 Teams That Should Consider Trading Up for Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III has officially declared his intention to forego his senior season at Baylor University to enter the 2012 NFL draft. This news isn't really a surprise, and now teams will be studying the young man's life and body of work as if he were attempting to become the next president of the United States of America.

There are four teams that should consider trading up in the draft with either the St. Louis Rams (second overall) or the Minnesota Vikings (third overall) with the intent of picking Griffin III.

The upcoming draft has become one of the thinnest in recent history at the quarterback position. Matt Barkley (USC) and Landry Jones (Oklahoma) were thought to be coming out, which excited a few teams, I'm sure, before they decided to stay with their respective schools for one more season.

This has put added pressure on the teams hoping to turn things around with the addition of a new quarterback. Instead of four potential first-round options teams are now down to only two. 

This will be good news for the Rams or the Vikings, both of which could use the extra draft picks they could garner for their precious pick to continue rebuilding around Sam Bradford and Christian Ponder.

So, which teams should consider trading up for Griffin III?

Cleveland Browns

The jury still seems to be out on second-year quarterback Colt McCoy, but I can't say I see him as anything more than a competent backup in the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns and Mike Holmgren are in make-or-break territory in Holmgren's third year as team president.

Holmgren gutted the team this past offseason in order to start from scratch with a completely different scheme on defense, which seems to be working. There are some major question marks on offense, however.

Peyton Hillis was a disaster in 2011, and I don't expect him to be back. The Browns should try to address this position in the draft, and could potentially decide to pick up Alabama's Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick. 

The Browns also need to make moves to upgrade the interior of their line and provide more weapons on offense (wide receiver, tight end).

I am of the opinion that they would be better suited in making a bold move for a potential franchise quarterback. Griffin III reminds me of a young Michael Vick, but with an accurate arm and better mechanics who possesses the abilities to thrive in Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have been looking up at the rest of the AFC East for what seems to have been the better part of the last two decades. 

In order to compete against the likes of the New England Patriots and New York Jets, the Dolphins need both a strong offense and a strong defense. The defense is good, and one or two key free-agent signings could sew things up pretty tight in that area.

The offense, on the other hand, could use some help (no offense intended to Matt Moore).

I wonder how explosive the Dolphins offense could be with Robert Griffin III and Reggie Bush in the same backfield?

The Dolphins should strongly consider trading up with the Rams to snag this talented young superstar. They already possess a few dangerous weapons for him to throw to, in Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano, and the right trigger man could make them one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL.

Washington Redskins

As if we needed any proof that Rex Grossman throws with his eyes closed...

The Washington Redskins are a quarterback away from automatically becoming major players in the NFC East. They could use a few other pieces, too, but what team couldn't?

Mike Shanahan runs an offense that requires a certain set of skills, and any quarterback trying to run his system without said skills makes a mockery of the system and Shanahan. 

Thankfully for the Redskins and their fans, Griffin III possesses those skills: accuracy, quick thinking, discipline, intelligence, the ability to move around in the pocket, the ability to throw well while moving and a strong arm.

He is also a young man who will stay out of trouble, if his past accounts for what he might do in the future, and the Redskins would have found a solution for the long term if they decide to pull the trigger and move up three or four spots in the draft to pick him up.

Seattle Seahawks

Out of the four teams on my list, the Seattle Seahawks would have to give up the most to trade up for Robert Griffin III. They possess the 11th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft, and the cost to move up that far will be steep.

Still, neither Tavaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst is going to propel the Seahawks past the San Francisco 49ers any time soon, and head coach Pete Carroll is surely lamenting the decisions by Matt Barkley and Landry Jones to stay in school.

The Seahawks are a good team. I'm serious.

Their defense was, in my opinion, the fifth or sixth-best in the NFL in 2011, and they will only get better. Earl Thomas will end up being the next Bob Sanders (in his prime) if he can stay healthy, and Kam Chancellor is no slouch either, making them one of the best young safety tandems in the league.

The offense could be spectacular with the right quarterback, as Marshawn Lynch and the offensive line have become one of the most dominant units in the league. I am, of course, operating under the assumption that there is no way the Seahawks allow Lynch to leave via free agency.

Remember that Sidney Rice should be back and healthy next year. Rookie Doug Baldwin and second-year speedster Golden Tate make this unit one of the most underrated groups in the league.

It would be worth it, I think, for the Seahawks to make every attempt to move up in the draft to secure Griffin's unique abilities.