2012 NFL Mock Draft: Which Teams Are in the Robert Griffin III Race?
The newly minted Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III has a tough decision to make: stay at Baylor for his senior season or take his talents to the NFL and cash in on a terrific season that he will be hard pressed to top.
While it would be fun to see that Baylor offense with RG3 leading the charge again, the allure of money, his draft stock never being higher than it is now and the fact he already got his college degree should push him into the NFL.
But now we have to determine which teams will be interested in his services. There is no shortage of teams that need a dynamic quarterback, so there will be plenty of suitors lining up to scout him at the Combine.
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Our current mock draft has him going to Buffalo with the sixth pick, which is interesting in and of itself since they just signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to an extension. But that is how quick things can change in the NFL.
Here are the best fits for Griffin when the NFL Draft rolls around in April.
Miami Dolphins
We have the Dolphins taking a quarterback, but with the NFL being in a transitional period when it comes to the position, Griffin could easily move up to the No. 4 spot in the draft.
The Dolphins are desperate for someone to be their franchise quarterback, and Griffin has the potential to be a dynamic player that this team has never had at that position.
If Griffin's workout goes as well as some of his games at Baylor this season, he can easily become the second quarterback taken.
Cleveland Browns
It is safe to say that the Colt McCoy experiment has not worked out the way that Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur were hoping. Part of the reason for that can be attributed to a terrible collection of skill players around him, but he isn't doing anything to inspire confidence.
Griffin can step right in and be one of the two best playmakers for this team—Josh Cribbs might give him a run for his money.
But the Browns have been searching for a franchise quarterback since coming back to the NFL in 1999, and Griffin has more potential than anyone this team has drafted since Tim Couch.
Washington Redskins
Mike Shanahan's reputation as an offensive innovator has take a hit during his two seasons as head coach in Washington. He tried to catch lightning in a bottle with Donovan McNabb last year and Rex Grossman this year.
Unsurprisingly, both of those moves have blown up in his face, and the team is still searching for an answer both next year and for the long term.
If I were Griffin, I would hope that the Redskins don't go after me considering their inability to build a team with smart drafting, but I don't think he would complain about going ninth overall.
Seattle Seahawks
Considering how hot Griffin is right now, I think that it will take a horrible workout in front of scouts for him to fall out of the top 10, so the Seahawks would probably have to make a deal in order to get him.
As much as Pete Carroll was criticized for leaving USC and coming back to the NFL two years ago, he has done a better job than most of us expected. And he has done it without a reliable quarterback.
Griffin will be able to start right away and give the team production at least similar to that of Tarvaris Jackson, if not better, because he understands what it takes to play quarterback much better than Jackson.
| 1. | Indianapolis Colts (0-13) | Andrew Luck, QB |
| 2. | St. Louis Rams (2-10) | Justin Blackmon, WR |
| 3. | Minnesota Vikings (2-11) | Matt Kalil, OT |
| 4. | Miami Dolphins (4-9) | Matt Barkley, QB |
| 5. | Carolina Panthers (4-9) | Morris Claiborne, CB |
| 6. | Buffalo Bills (5-8) | Robert Griffin III, QB |
| 7. | Cleveland Browns (4-9) | Trent Richardson, RB |
| 8. | Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) | Michael Floyd, WR |
| 9. | Washington Redskins (4-9) | Landry Jones, QB |
| 10. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9) | Quinton Coples, DE |
| 11. | Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) | Alshon Jeffery, WR |
| 12. | Seattle Seahawks (5-7) | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB |
| 13. | Kansas City Chiefs (5-8) | Riley Reiff, OT |
| 14. | San Diego Chargers (6-7) | Alfonzo Dennard, CB |
| 15. | Arizona Cardinals (6-7) | Jonathan Martin, OT |
| 16. | Tennessee Titans (7-6) | Vontaze Burfict, LB |
| 17. | Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK) (7-6) | Lamar Miller, RB |
| 18. | Chicago Bears (7-6) | Peter Konz, C |
| 19. | Dallas Cowboys (7-6) | Devon Still, DT |
| 20. | Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) | Janoris Jenkins, CB |
| 21. | Detroit Lions (8-5) | Luke Kuechly, LB |
| 22. | New York Jets (8-5) | David DeCastro, OG |
| 23. | Denver Broncos (8-5) | Brandon Thompson, DT |
| 24. | Cleveland Browns (via ATL) (8-5) | Jarvis Jones, LB |
| 25. | Houston Texans (10-3) | Mark Barron, S |
| 26. | Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) | Dont'a Hightower, LB |
| 27. | New York Giants (7-6) | Zach Brown, LB |
| 28. | New England (via NO 10-3) | Chase Minnifield, CB |
| 29. | Baltimore Ravens (10-3) | Courtney Upshaw, DE |
| 30. | San Francisco 49ers (10-3) | Kendall Wright, WR |
| 31. | New England Patriots (10-3) | Mohamed Sanu, WR |
| 32. | Green Bay Packers (13-0) | Cordy Glenn, OG |
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
