2012 NFL Draft: Will Cleveland Browns Trade Up to Take Robert Griffin III?

According to a story today by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot, if the Cleveland Browns want to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, they may have to trade up from the No. 4 spot in the NFL draft to make it happen.

ESPN's Todd McShay thinks the Browns and Washington Redskins will be in a bidding war to move up and take the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, and that whoever is willing to part with the most in return for the St. Louis Rams' No. 2 pick will come away with Griffin.

The Browns currently own the No. 4 and No. 22 overall picks, while the Redskins have No. 6 and No. 39. 

McShay claims he would package both of Cleveland's picks to ensure the team can draft Griffin, but that if the Baylor product played any position other than quarterback he wouldn't make the move. McShay claims that Griffin has almost nothing to prove physically at next week's NFL Combine and that if it wasn't for Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, he might be the top player on the board.

Right now, it looks like if a trade happens it will be for St. Louis' No. 2 pick. The Rams appear willing to move in order to stockpile more picks, and dropping to either No. 4 or No. 6 would still likely allow them to take an elite player who could help immediately. 

If the Browns are not sold on Colt McCoy's long-term viability as a franchise quarterback, then they should take McShay's advice and move up. They can't take the risk that the Redskins will leapfrog them and get him. If you have the chance to nail down a franchise quarterback, you take it, regardless of the immediate cost.

Yes, two first-round picks is a lot to give up, but Griffin isn't just a good player on the field. He is the kind of guy fans will love because of his attitude, leadership and intelligence. He will make a fantastic face of whatever franchise he ends up with and that would essentially double his value as a player.

The Browns should make a move to ensure they end up with him if they are ready to move on from McCoy.