With the second pick in the 2012 BGN Community Mock Draft, Luxury_Used_Vehicles_By_Braman selects...
Robert Griffin III: QB, Baylor
This pick is even more automatic than the previous pick.
At least the Colts had the luxury of entertaining a Luck versus RGIII debate. The Redskins have no choice but to draft whomever the Colts don't. There is no decision to make. There is no question on whether you agree or disagree. This is the only pick the Redskins can make here.
Snyder & Friends committed themselves to drafting either Luck or RGIII when they traded away their 2012, 2013, and 2014 1st-round picks along with their 2012 2nd-round pick. While the trade itself can be questioned, who gets drafted at this spot cannot. The Redskins must draft their franchise quarterback with this pick. The only two quarterbacks in this draft that have been unanimously deemed franchise-worthy have been Stanford's Andrew Luck and Baylor's Robert Griffin III. With Luck off the board, it's RGIII time here in our nation's capital. I can already envision the burgundy and gold billboards and bus stop advertisement's proclaiming: "RGIII - The Future is Here (for real this time)! Buy your PSL's and $150 parking passes TODAY!!"
More after the jump...
It's amazing to say this, but the Redskins have not had a consistent, long-term solution at quarterback since Joe Theismann was crippled by L.T. on Monday Night Football, back in the 1980's. Joe Theismann!!! Sure Mark Rypien won a Super Bowl in 1992, but he only started an entire 16-game season twice. Since then, the Redskins quarterback carousal has been highlighted by Gus Frerotte, Brad Johnson, Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, and Jason Campbell.
This team and this town have been starving for a hero on the football field. Clinton was funny. Santana was exciting in a D-Jax sort of way. But previous gridiron heroes like Darrell Green, Brian Mitchell, and the Hogs are long-gone. RGIII immediately takes the throne away from Alexander Ovechkin as D.C.'s most celebrated athlete. There will be so much hype and excitement around RGIII that it'll make the previous off-season championships look trivial. Don't be surprised if RGIII re-injures his knee on the draft podium on April 26 due to the enormity of pressure that'll pour down on him.
Yet, the really cool thing about this kid is that he appears to have all the ability and the right mentality to not only handle it, but to also thrive in it.
RGIII's arrival in Washington will create the most significant division-shifting impact to the NFC East since the Eagles drafted McNabb (I consider Vick's addition as simply extending the Donovan impact), Dallas hired Parcells, and the Giants drafted Manning.
The decision to draft RGIII coupled with the hiring of Mike Shanahan will prove to be best events to happen for the Redskins in the last 20 years. RGIII will be immediately successful in Washington because:
1. He can carry an entire team of inferior talent on his shoulders as he did at Baylor
2. His maneuverability and athleticism will allow him to survive a sub-par offensive line (not to mention a sub-par offense)
3. He has top-end, go-to receiver in Fred DavisRGIII is the perfect QB for Mike Shanahan from the perspective of both coach's job insurance and quarterbacking ability. Mike Shanahan has three more years left on his contract, and by drafting RGIII he guarantees himself that he will not only be around all three years but also have the freedom to grow and mentor RGIII following a Reid-McNabb model. From a quarterbacking perspective, three of Shanahan's most successful QB's were those that brought mobility to the game: Young, Elway, and Plummer. All of whose mobility skills dwarf in comparison to RGIII's Vick-like skills. RGIII is also an incredibly accurate quarterback at all distances, completing 72 percent of his passes in 2011 for 37 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, following a similarly successful 2010 season completing 67 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Lastly and most importantly, RGIII appears to have his head firmly planted on his shoulders. There are no Ryan Leaf or Jamarcus Russell fragility issues. No Michael Vick baggage. RGIII (along with Andrew Luck) has successfully marketed himself as the complete quarterback package.
In a division branded by teams boasting Pro Bowl quarterbacks anchored by tough, aggressive defenses, the Washington Redskins finally step on to the field and join the rest of the NFC East.
Next on the clock will be Dave King with the Minnesota Vikings.
Previous picks: #1: Andrew Luck