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| Browns be better off with RG3 instead of Richardson and Weeden? (US PRESSWIRE) |
Robert Griffin III could be the most dynamic player in his draft class. The second-overall pick in April, RG3 is now the Redksins' franchise quarterback, its future. The organization bet the proverbial farm on the former Baylor star, although Griffin admitted Tuesday that he originally thought he'd be a member of the Browns.
“Once I declared for the draft, Cleveland was a place I thought I would be just because they had the most firepower when it came to draft picks and tradeability,” he said according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
He wasn't alone. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock suggested in February that the Browns would be wise to trade up from No. 4 to No. 2 to guarantee that they landed RG3.
“[If I'm the Browns], I want to go get RG3," Mayock said at the time. "I’m going to examine free agency also, but in draft I’m looking to move up to No. 2 as opposed to No. 3. … I’d rather not give up No. 22 also, but I think that’s shortsighted when you talk about securing your future at the most important position in all of sports.”
And NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang and Dane Brugler both had the Browns taking RG3 in early versions of their mock drafts.
On draft night, the Browns did trade up, but not for RG3. Instead, they moved up one spot to No. 3 to take running back Trent Richardson (former Browns great Jim Brown was unimpressed). And then, after the Titans took wideout Kendall Wright at No. 20 (whom the Browns were targeted), drafted 28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden.
(At the time, it seemed like a risky move; the Browns desperately needed a wide receiver and there's a good chance that Weeden would've been available when Cleveland picked again at No. 37. But that's a story for another time.)
RG3 and Weeden faced off in college (Weeden, then with Oklahoma State, won going away, 59-24, but Griffin still threw for 425 yards), and if they're both in the starting lineups when the Browns host the Redskins on Dec. 16, it could happen again.
“I got to know (Weeden) a little bit, he’s a great guy,” Griffin said. “On the field, it speaks for itself. He’s got a great arm and he seems like a great leader. Everyone wants to question his age (28), but as long as you are playing well right now it doesn’t matter what your age.”
And, really, that's the bottom line. If the Weeden experiment doesn't work out, all people will remember is that the Browns squandered a first-round pick on a quarterback who turned 30 in his second NFL season -- when they could've had Griffin (even if team president Mike Holmgren says otherwise).
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