Washington Redskins Acquiring No. 2 Pick Shows Mike Shanahan Is Desperate

The ransom NFL.com claims the Washington Redskins have paid to the St. Louis Rams for the chance to draft Robert Griffin III, is a sign of Mike Shanahan's desperation.

First-round picks in 2013 and 2014, as well as this year's second-round selection, is a huge bounty. Shanahan knows that after only 11 wins in two seasons, he has to make a bold move and deliver a winner now.

The timing of the trade is also curious and worryingly hints at a possible panic reaction from the Redskins hierarchy. Reports earlier in the week suggested that the team would be serious players in the race to sign Peyton Manning.

However, any hopes of landing the perennial All-Pro were dashed on Thursday, when news broke that Manning would turn down any move to D.C. Agreeing to pay such a huge trade price to the Rams just 24 hours after losing out on Manning could be a panic move.

Previous reports on NFL.com had stated that the Redskins were unwilling to part with this year's second-round pick and made no mention of a first-round choice in 2014. Yet in the wake of Manning's rejection, Washington's front office quickly got over any issues they had with the deal.

Shanahan and Bruce Allen needed to do something big after 6-10 and 5-11 finishes. Shanahan needed to appear to be doing something decisive about the quarterback problem.

His ill-fated Donovan McNabb trade backfired and subjecting the team and the fans to the John Beck, Rex Grossman flip-flop fiasco, severely damaged his reputation as a quarterback expert. Yet by giving away so much to land Griffin, Shanahan has put his own and the Redskins' future at risk.

By trading away the prime picks in the next two drafts, Shanahan is saying he is ready to win now. If he can't, fans shouldn't bank on Dan Snyder giving him the full five years he claims he needs to build a winner in Washington.