NFL Draft 2012: Analyzing Trade-Up Scenarios for Redskins, Dolphins and Browns

While the 2012 NFL draft is still three months away, the growing consensus around the draft community is that some quarterback-needy team will attempt to trade with the St. Louis Rams in an effort to pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. 

Of course, there's still plenty of hoops to jump through before any of the scenarios play out. The NFL Combine has yet to even take place. But for the sake of this article, let's assume the trade-up possibility plays out. 

Given the way rosters look right now, three teams look to be the front-runners to trade up for Griffin: the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins.

While fans of those franchises are always quick to point out these trade-up scenarios, few understand how much it takes to move up just a few spots in the first round. To get a better understanding, let's take a look, using the NFL's draft trade value chart, at what fair value trades would be for each team.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Pick: No. 4

A fair value deal: Rams' No. 2 pick in 2012 for Browns' No. 4, No. 22 and 2013 fourth-round pick

Analysis: Is Griffin worth both first-round picks in 2012 and a fourth-rounder either this season or the next? That's the decision. It'd certainly be an easier deal to make for Cleveland because of the draft capital they acquired last April. But with so many holes, can the Browns afford to give up that many valuable choices for one player?

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Pick: No. 6

A fair value deal: Rams' No. 2 pick in 2012 for Redskins' No. 6 pick, second and two fourths.

Analysis: Would the Redskins ever do this deal? Unlikely. But it's also unlikely that the Rams would ask for this deal.

St. Louis could swing an equal deal that asks for the No. 6 pick, a 2012 third-rounder and the Redskins' first-round pick in 2013. If there's an owner that would swing that kind of deal, it might be Daniel Synder. The Redskins need a quarterback more than any team in football, but that's asking for a lot of picks later on. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Pick: No. 9/10

A fair value deal: Rams' No. 2 pick in 2012 for Dolphins' No. 9/10 pick, 2013 first-round pick, 2012 third-round pick and one or two players. 

Analysis: As you'd expect, the price is going up significantly. Would the Dolphins be willing to dish out this much draft capital for a quarterback when its newly hired head coach has ties with the top free agent quarterback available (Matt Flynn)? Joe Philbin and the Dolphins staff would have to fall in love with RG3 to make a trade up, especially if the Rams stay true to the chart.