Photo: Associated Press
- Adam ParkerI must be out of my mind, right? There is no feasible way that the St. Louis Rams would consider putting their foot in their mouth by trading two-year pro and 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford for a package of draft picks and then essentially start over again by drafting Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick.
Or would they?
Sure, Bradford seems great, but he definitely regressed in his sophomore season. But can you really put all the blame on Bradford? Hardly. The Rams' offensive line was in complete shambles, the receiving corps left something to be desired, and as it has been with the Rams in recent memory, Steven Jackson once again had to be a one-man band.
With all those problems, would the grass really be greener on the other side with RGIII?
With the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams are in a great position. Honestly, I can't remember a time when a team sat in a more desirable position than St. Louis is in right now.
They could keep Bradford and trade the pick to a team that wants Griffin III for multiple picks; or they could take Griffin III and trade Bradford for a king's ransom in draft choices. One way or another, the Rams are playing with house money and have the potential to greatly improve their football team.
One of the biggest benefits of trading Bradford and drafting Griffin III is the effect the new collective bargaining agreement has on rookie contracts. Bradford has four years left on his rookie contract signed under the old CBA which will total $48 million. Griffin, on the other hand, will likely sign a four-year deal worth roughly $22 million.
Swapping out the former Sooner (Bradford) for the Baylor product (Griffin III) not only potentially makes great football sense, it's also the more fiscally responsible choice as it saves the team $26 million -- money that could be used to fill some of the other glaring holes on this team like the offensive line, linebacker corps, and secondary through free agency.
But on to the most important question: Who is the better player? Both of these quarterbacks had exceptional college careers, despite not being cut from the same cloth. I'm 100% certain that they both have the necessary tools to be long-term successful NFL quarterbacks, despite what others have claimed.
I watched both players during their respective collegiate careers, and Bradford, to me, is the better of the two. Bradford displayed superior talent during his time with Oklahoma. Griffin has as well, but in a much different form.
There's no question Bradford had his struggles this season after a stellar 2010 rookie campaign; but as I iterated above, I believe his regression directly stemmed from his inability to stay healthy coupled with the inconsistent play of his teammates. But despite his struggles, I still like Bradford over Griffin III for the Rams moving forward.
Now comes the matter of who would fetch more value in a trade, because whatever St. Louis ultimately decides, there is going to be a trade involved. I think Bradford would be more valuable despite his higher salary. He already has two seasons under his belt in a pro-style offense in the NFL and would be ready to start and win right now if the Rams can only surround him with the necessary pieces.
If the Rams choose to draft Griffin III and trade Bradford, they could receive somewhere in the neighborhood of two first-round draft choices plus another pick or player -- and save $26 million in the process. If they keep Bradford and trade the second pick, it is possible they could still get the same deal.
If you believe in Griffin III's ability to become at least as good a quarterback as Bradford, you trade Bradford. However, if I were to don the general manager's cap, I'd stick with Bradford because he's the more known quantity at this point, and has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler.
But enough of what I think, what would you do? The draft is approaching fast.
Bradford or RGIII? You decide.
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