WASHINGTON – Fans had mixed reactions to the news that the Washington Redskins will be giving up several early draft picks this year in order to have a chance at drafting Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
The St. Louis Rams agreed in principle Saturday to trading the No. 2 pick of the draft to the Redskins for three first-round selections. The deal can’t be finalized until Tuesday.
The move would allow the Redskins to leapfrog any other team that would have an interest in Griffin. The Indianapolis Colts are expected to take Andrew Luck with the No. 1 choice.
Some fans say all those draft picks are too much for one player — even if he does have the potential to be a franchise quarterback.
“Great guy,” wrote Craig Mills on WTOP’s Facebook Page. “Too much, unless he has better players around him.”
“They need to build a TEAM not go for some magic player,” wrote Kwang Han.
Others say it’s worth the risk.
“This fanbase needed to be excited about something, so I think it had to be done,” says Scott Lowery on our Facebook page.
But not everybody says this is too much.
Longtime Redskins reporter David Elfin says the deal is giving up a lot, but for once they’re actually looking to the future — even if it comes with a hefty price.
“They’re not mortgaging the future for veteran players, they mortgaged the future for a young quarterback this town has not had since maybe Sammy Baugh,” says Elfin.
“It’s about time they tried this,” he adds.
Some on WTOP’s Facebook page agree.
“The Redskins were playing Rex Grossman and John Beck. Enough said,” wrote Bobby Harrison.
Grossman and Beck combined to throw 24 interceptions last year, putting the Redskins just one behind league leaders Philadelphia and Buffalo on the way to a fourth consecutive last-place finish in the division.
“Good move, now if they can get two good offensive linesmen from free agency they will be in good shape to compete,” writes Keith Holman.
Some fans point to the Heisman curse, a belief that Heisman Trophy winners will lose their bowl game, and have a poor career in the NFL, for a reason that Griffin might not be worth it.
As Baylor’s quarterback, Griffin beat the Washington Huskies 67-56 at the 2011 Alamo Bowl. Elfin says Griffin appears to be the real thing, and a winner on and off the field.
Others point to college quarterbacks who have not done well once they’ve turned pro.
Elfin says that’s not the case.
“Think about guys like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez,” says Elfin. “Most of them have done pretty well.”
Elfin says that the move might give Coach Mike Shanahan another year with the Redskins.
Shanahan has already whiffed on three in his two seasons in Washington, with Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman and John Beck combining to produce an 11-21 record.
“Nobody expects him to win with a rookie quarterback,” says Elfin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP & The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
