Washington Redskins: Is Drafting Robert Griffin III More Desperation Than Plan?

Anyone with half a brain and a television tuned to the Washington Redskins for even one offensive series last season can tell you that they need to upgrade the quarterback position. Mike Shanahan went as far as to stake his reputation on both Rex Grossman and John Beck last season, as well as Donovan McNabb the season before.

Is the interest in Robert Griffin III this year a move for the future, or Shanahan's plea for a stay of execution?

Griffin is a talented quarterback with one year of publicized production, preceded by two seasons of great improvement and one unfortunate injury-shortened season in 2009. There is plenty of tape on Griffin to make the case for him as the second-best quarterback in this year's draft class behind the second coming of Peyton Manning in Andrew Luck.

The Redskins could do—and have done—a lot worse than Griffin as a franchise quarterback. But something about the rumors regarding potential trades smack of desperation.

Howard Eskin of 94 WIP in Philadelphia tweeted that the Redskins "are prepared to offer picks one, two and three this year, at least a one next year to move up to get RG3 at two" according to people within the organization.

Based on his Heisman-winning senior year, the interviews, the intangibles and measurables, Griffin is worth just about every bit of what the Redskins are rumored to be ready to give up. However, is the sum the Redskins have in mind based more on the value of Griffin or the desperation for Shanahan to rebound after two disappointing seasons as head coach in Washington?

The primary basis for Washington's sizable package of picks is what the Cleveland Browns—who are also said to be interested in Griffin—can offer the St. Louis Rams, who own the second overall pick in the draft.

Cleveland has two picks in the first round of this year's draft and could offer a more immediate deal to the needy Rams. The Redskins would have to give up the first half of their draft this year, plus their first pick next year to have a chance at Griffin, but the price of success is often steep.

Ask the New York Giants if they regret trading the equivalent of two first-round picks and a third-round pick for Eli Manning in 2004.

The one wild card in this situation is the relationship between Shanahan and new Rams head coach Jeff Fisher. It won't amount to a discount for the second overall pick, but it would give Shanahan the inside track in a deal for the rights to RG3.

Fans certainly want a quarterback the caliber of Griffin as the face of their franchise, but may balk at the idea of mortgaging the future for one player who could be Andre Ware as easily as he could be the next big thing in the NFL.

However steep the price for the pick may be, there is no doubting that a player like Griffin could change the fortunes of the franchise. However, it should be because he is the best player for the job, rather than the biggest name to save Shanahan's.