2012 NFL Draft: What If Andrew Luck or RGIII Is a Bust?

Yes, you read that title correctly. Thinking the unthinkable. 

What if Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III is a bust?

It may seem ridiculous to think about, but nothing is rock solid in the draft. We have seen prospects that were almost assured a good NFL future vanish into the depths of obscurity. 

Let's examine the aftermath of a Luck bust. 

There will always be people saying that Luck is different, that he is the most NFL-ready prospect in history. We've heard this before. After all, even JaMarcus Russell had an amazing Pro Day.

But let's go the hypothetical route. Let's say that somehow, someway, Luck's talent set doesn't transfer to the pros. Luck becomes a bust.

The first and most noticeable effect would be the Colts fading back into obscurity. They are pretty much betting the next few years of the franchise on Luck. If Luck fails, they will have to go back to the drawing board and basically rebuild the entire team. 

Yes, that means that Peyton Manning's name will be brought up once again. The fan base will get furious that their legendary quarterback was released by the team for a bust. The Broncos will appear as clear winners while the Colts will have to fend off the masses of angry fans.

But what about Robert Griffin III? He did win the Heisman and depending on if you are superstitious, could fall to the "Heisman Curse" that is talked about these days. While the repercussions for his fall might be less than Luck, they would still be bad.

The Redskins will have tried and failed once again to get a franchise quarterback that they sorely need. Like the Colts, the Redskins are betting a lot on Griffin being an amazing QB. If he fails, Redskin management might look to put somebody else in the head coach position. Shanahan could face a serious threat of firing.

More importantly, the ramifications on the league itself would be pretty big too. Teams would be very hesitant to pull the trigger on quarterbacks in the draft—especially with Luck, who many consider the most sure fire pick ever. 

If either of them failed, I would think that the importance of the Combine and Pro Days would be minimal in the next few years. Teams would honestly draft a quarterback based on what they think he can do.

Of course, this is all speculation. At least one of these guys is bound to have success, maybe even both of them. However, like I said at the beginning: Nothing is for certain. Many things have happened, and unfortunately, I think one of these guys will not live up to expectations.