2012 NFL Draft: Washington Redskins Paid Way Too High Price for RGIII

The Washington Redskins churned the silent waters of the upcoming draft by trading up for the second overall pick, previously held by the St. Louis Rams. Since the Indianapolis Colts appear to be sold on Andrew Luck, the Redskins will use their first-round pick to acquire Robert Griffin III.

The Redskins have been looking for their franchise quarterback for nearly 20 years and they have finally put themselves in a position where they can draft him. However, this didn’t come cheap.

Washington traded its 2012, 2013 and 2014 first-round picks and their 2012 second-round pick to the Rams. Undoubtedly, the Rams came out as winners from the trade and while the Redskins will finally get a talented quarterback, they will be doomed if this doesn’t work out for them.

A top-three draft pick is never found at a bargain. Nevertheless, Washington traded away a lot.

The Redskins are not just a couple of pieces away from assembling a team able to compete with the top teams of the NFL. They have offensive-line issues and need to upgrade their receiving corps and the secondary. The salary cap is not an issue, but you can’t address all your needs in the free agency.

Trading two future first-rounders is a very risky move. Mike Shanahan opted to exclude Washington from adding top college talent the next couple of years to add one of the two high-profile signal-callers of the 2012 NFL draft. It’s like mortgaging your future to make it better.

Do the Redskins expect Robert Griffin III to perform in his rookie season like Cam Newton did last year? Maybe they do, but their expectations are greater for the next few years than they are in 2012.

That’s where the danger lies. If RGIII does not provide the level of competition that the Redskins demand, then the franchise will be in a worse position that it is right now. The so-called franchise quarterback will be a long lost dream, while having sacrificed two precious draft picks.

On the other hand, Robert Griffin III has great potential and can instantly provide effective passing play. He looks more like a future star than a draft bust and the Redskins need a leader under center—they need him desperately.

However, that trade is a high-risk, high-gain move. Only time will tell where it’ll fall.