Washington Redskins and Mike Shanahan Need Robert Griffin III to Win Now

If, as widely expected, the Redskins do select Robert Griffin III in April's draft, the pressure will be on both franchise and player, for the rookie to be a success from day one.

Ever since they traded away three prime draft selections for the right to draft Griffin, the Redskins have created an environment where he must succeed right away.

This pressure was only intensified by events prior to and just after the start of free agency. An NFL-imposed salary cap penalty, followed by the addition of three new wide receivers, means the Redskins need Griffin to win now, not later.

The proposed $36 million salary cap hit joins the lack of top draft choices in the next two years, to seriously hinder how the Redskins can build a team around Griffin. A dramatic reduction in cap space along with no first-round picks in 2013 and 2014 reduces the chances of adding premium, top-level talent.

This creates a scenario that Mike Shanahan may not be able to risk. If the Redskins are set up for more struggles, how long can the current regime expect to last after 6-10 and 5-11 finishes?

Shanahan may have pointed to a five-year plan, but a repeat of a similar record in 2012 could see him shown the door. Dan Snyder is not known for his patience and tolerance of struggling coaches.

If the cap penalty stands, it could also serve to turn many against Shanahan and Bruce Allen. If the front office was aware of the potential of such a penalty, then making a trade giving away precious draft picks would begin to look like a direct contribution to further failure.

Shanahan can be criticised for similarly dooming the Redskins to ineptitude in 2011 by opting to go with a John Beck-Rex Grossman combination at quarterback.

What do all these things mean for Griffin?

There was more than a hint of panic behind the sudden trade with the St. Louis Rams. Shanahan had been rebuffed by Peyton Manning. The free-agent crop consisted of Manning and little else and the draft class had been weakened by the omissions of Landry Jones and Matt Barkley.

So the Redskins quickly caved to the Rams' hefty demands and relented on their previous restrictions to the deal.

By trading away so much for the right to draft him, the Redskins have indicated that the rest of the team is strong enough to contend now. That being the case, Griffin must be expected to make his his rookie season a winning one.

Recent success from rookie quarterbacks has created a new level of expectation for first-year passers. Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Andy Dalton all took their teams to playoffs in year one.

No longer is it the prevailing notion to expect a quarterback to endure the previously "typical" rookie jitters. By paying big contracts to Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal, Shanahan is leaving Griffin with little excuse not to win early.

The Heisman trophy winner—touted as a franchise saviour—is joining a franchise that needs to win now. By trading away three prime picks, falling foul of the league over the salary cap and winning only 11 games in two seasons, the Redskins have traded away Griffin's transition period.