2012 NFL Draft: Robert Griffin III Is Worth Redskins' Monster Trade

The elite athleticism and dependable character of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III make him well worth the monster trade that the Washington Redskins agreed to in principle this past week, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Redskins will acquire the No. 2 overall pick in next April's draft from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for three first-round picks and an additional second-round selection, according to Schefter. 

The trade cannot become official until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, but it is unlikely that anything will derail it at this point. That being said, the Redskins are just weeks away from drafting their next franchise quarterback in Griffin III.

So put those "Peyton Manning to DC" deals on hold for now. In fact, cancel No. 18's visit to the capital.

If you are a pessimist, Washington certainly lost a lot in this trade, considering that they have agreed to send a significant amount of future talent to St. Louis just for one player in Griffin III, but if you are an optimist, there is no denying that this move will spark a turnaround.

Griffin III measured up well at the NFL scouting combine, coming in around 6'3" and somewhere around 230 pounds. With a shaky offensive line attempting to protect him next season, that's huge.

But not only can the Baylor prospect take hits and avoid them, he can throw the ball as well as any quarterback available, including Stanford's Andrew Luck. Griffin III completed 72.4 percent of his passes last season with the Chicago Bears, averaging 10.7 yards per attempt (a three-yard increase from 2010). 

Statistically, Griffin III was a better passer than Luck in 2011, but Luck's prototypical size and pocket presence won the hearts of professional scouts and coaches. 

Griffin III threw four fewer interceptions than Luck and threw for 776 more yards. Whatever Luck can do for the Indianapolis Colts, Griffin III can do just as well or better for the Washington Redskins, who have more weapons to offer the 22-year-old superstar.

The Redskins made the right move to abandon the trade/free-agent route to improvement. As the Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth experiments have evidenced, luring big-name NFL veterans with millions is a sure way to guarantee disappointment. 

Washington will only get better by drafting top-notch talent and drafting smart. They will do both next April when the they take Griffin III with the No. 2 pick.