2012 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Choice to Draft RG3 Isn't About Colt McCoy

If the Cleveland Browns eventually make the decision to move up and draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in the 2012 NFL draft, reigning starting quarterback Colt McCoy should not play a role in that determination.

Why?

The reason is fairly straightforward, and it comes down to "good" versus "elite."

While I don't think that you'll find too many who disagree that McCoy is a starting-caliber player at that position, you'd be considerably more hard-pressed to identify those who think McCoy can become elite. In this day and age of the NFL, "good" quarterbacks give their respective teams hope for the postseason. "Elite" quarterbacks give hope for Super Bowls. 

That's where Mike Holmgren, Tom Heckert and the rest of the Browns management has to make a decision.

If that brain trust comes to the conclusion during the pre-draft process that Griffin can become an elite player and lead Cleveland to Super Bowls, the decision to move up becomes an easy one. You simply can't let a guy like Griffin pass if you come to that agreement.

McCoy doesn't factor into this equation. There's no Peyton Manning/Andrew Luck complex in Cleveland like there is in Indianapolis, and the Browns are not tied to McCoy in any way for 2012.

The Browns even said after the season that they wouldn't commit to McCoy next year. If they think Griffin is the next Aaron Rodgers, there should be absolutely no hesitation from the Browns to attempt a trade up. 

This entire reality is going to lead to a lot of sleepless nights for Holmgren and Heckert, as that duo now has to pick apart Griffin during this pre-draft process to make sure they are making the right decision either way.  

Whiffing on this judgement can send ripple effects throughout the Browns franchise for years to come. However, McCoy's presence in Cleveland shouldn't deter the Browns from making Griffin their man if they decide during the next two months that he's the real deal.  

2012 NFL Mock Draft    

1.  Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2.  Washington Redskins – Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis Rams)  

3.  Minnesota Vikings – Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4.  Cleveland Browns – Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

6.  St. Louis Rams – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa (via trade with Washington Redskins)

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars – Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

8.  Carolina Panthers – Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

10.  Buffalo Bills – Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks – Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals – Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14.  Dallas Cowboys – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

16.  New York Jets – Nick Perry, OLB, USC

17.  Cincinnati Bengals – Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18.  San Diego Chargers – David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

20.  Tennessee Titans – Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

21.  Cincinnati Bengals – Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

23.  Detroit Lions – Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers – Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

25.  Denver Broncos – Devon Still, DL, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans – Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

27.  New England Patriots – Mark Barron, S, Alabama

28.  Green Bay Packers – Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

29.  Baltimore Ravens – Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

30.  San Francisco 49ers – Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

31.  New England Patriots – Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

32.  New York Giants – Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama