Trading up for the No. 2 pick and the calm before the storm

Okay, so I lied a little in my headline. There is little about this time leading up to the 2012 draft that one would consider “calm”.

As it stands, there appears to be a mad-dash of epic proportions in the works to procure the talents of one Robert Griffin III.

Here’s what we know: Andrew Luck will be picked first overall by the Colts. Jim Irsay has all but signed the contract in blood and as Peyton Manning’s March 8th deadline to collect on a $28 million roster bonus approaches, it becomes increasingly clear that the Colts will hold a changing of the guard ceremony.

We also know that St. Louis is the current owner of the second overall pick in the draft. Lord knows they could use the help such a high pick would yield after a disastrous 2-14 season. But Sam Bradford is still very much in the picture and new head man Jeff Fisher isn’t likely to part ways with the former Sooner. There’s already too much money invested in Bradford and, let’s face it, he’s much better than the Rams’ recent success indicates.

So, RGIII needs a home and it’s very unlikely it’ll be in St. Louis.

Aside from Washington, Cleveland seems to be the hot and heavy suitor in prime position to take Griffin at No. 2. Unlike the Rams who seem to still have the bar set pretty high for their young signal caller, the Browns don’t appear to be too head-over-heels for Colt McCoy. It might be unfair to McCoy, who is only two years in and was limited after ending up in James Harrison’s cross hairs.

This is the NFL though, and nothing about it is fair. If the Browns feel that their greatest need lies in improving the situation at quarterback then that’s what they’ll do.

That is, assuming the Redskins’ brass don’t have something to say about it.

In all likelihood, St. Louis will require a 2nd and 3rd round pick from this year’s draft and a 1st round pick for 2013. Small potatoes, I say. Especially when you take into account what Griffin III could potentially do for whoever wins his sweepstakes on April 26th.

What seems to have Redskins nation divided and is undoubtedly the most polarizing issue surrounding Griffin III is whether or not he’s worth mortgaging [almost] an entire draft in order to land.

The fan in me says “yes”, resoundingly. Fortunately, the realist and critic in me tend to agree. So does Post writer Jason Reid

"“Anteing up for Griffin would change things. With Griffin, the Redskins could finally begin building around a quarterback capable of leading them to sustained success.If they paid a steep price to move up in the draft, the Redskins would have to rely more heavily on free agency to fill in other holes in the roster. Over-dependence on free agency is a big reason why they’re in their current mess.But getting Griffin should be the focus. The quarterback makes everything go”"

Washington has been without an elite signal caller for, well, almost all of my life (I was born in ’87), so I’m not the authority of the “was and when” the last time a prolific quarterback stood under center for the Redskins.

I do, however, recognize a guy that has “it” and RGIII radiates it in droves.

Normally, this would be about the time that I write something cautionary and about how we, as a fan-base, need to approach this with a level head and consider that RGIII may not be the Godsend he’s billed as.

It’s too late for that, though. The fever-pitch surging here in D.C.. The Shanaplan’s blueprint is based off of a steady build through the draft and while that’s true there’s nothing that has barred the Redskins from making a quantum leap in the building process.

If you think it’s stir-crazy now, just wait until it gets closer to late April. Between now and then, Dan Snyder better start taking inventory of what he has to put on the table.

I know there are those of you who seriously doubt the RGIII initiative. I know that even if the Redskins do manage to land him in the draft and he goes on to have the best training camp of any Redskin in the last twenty years, some of you will still refuse to concede to RGIII being money well spent. Clearly there’s nothing I can say to change your minds at this point. I have faith that it’s a worthy endeavor, but that’s one man’s opinion.

In the meantime, I’ll refer back to this old adage: you have to spend money to make money.