The NFL is a quarterback's league, so it's assumed that if a team seems weak at the position that they will grab a playmaker at QB if the right guy is there. When it comes to the 2012 NFL Draft, it's clear that there are two players that most believe will make a significant difference for a franchise: Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. While the Indianapolis Colts are likely to take Luck at No. 1 overall, Griffin's slot depends on trades and which team is up to bat. Yet it's possible Griffin could slide farther than some believe.
The St. Louis Rams pick second and they already have Sam Bradford in house to go with the hopes of a new regime in place. Thus they're likely to get offensive line help with their top choice. The Minnesota Vikings are third and they took Christian Ponder at No. 12 last season. That leaves the Cleveland Browns at No. 4, assuming no team trades up with the Rams or Vikes.
The Browns have Colt McCoy under center and he hasn't exactly stormed the AFC North in the same way Andy Dalton has. However, it seems that McCoy might have enough fans in the locker room among his peers to retain the starter role. In other words, McCoy could still succeed if he were given some playmakers on offense like Dalton has in Cincinnati.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay told me in New Orleans he really thinks the Cleveland Browns could be in the market for a quarterback this spring because they're not totally committed to the second all-time winningest quarterback in college football history, but McShay's opposed to looking elsewhere for an answer," writes Kirk Bohls. "'I think they should develop Colt (McCoy)," McShay said. Better yet, the Browns should draft a marquee wide receiver like South Carolina's Alshon Jeffrey, a star at the next level. I agree with McShay. McCoy's had next to zero offensive weapons. 'Everybody in the (Browns) locker room loves Colt,' Dawson tells me. 'Everybody's convinced of his toughness.'"
If the team believes enough in McCoy, then Griffin falls to No. 5 and the price to trade for him seemingly falls with his draft placement. If that's the case, then he might come within reach for another team like the Chiefs who are currently outside of a likely range at No. 11 or 12 (pending coin flip) if Griffin is going to be the second or third player chosen. There's a lot to still come between now and April when the draft plays out, but it's interesting to consider the possibilities even now. Clearly Griffin will be a hot commodity and force teams to consider scenarios to grab him. The question is how available will he become.