Whose going to get RG3?

We know that Andrew Luck is going to go #1. Don't let anybody fool you. Robert Griffin isn't going to surpass Luck. With St. Louis sitting at the #2 spot they dont' have a need at QB but yet are in the position where teams are willing to move up to get RG3. Add that up with St. Louis' desire to trade down, it's safe to say that we are going to see the first top 3 trade since the Falcons moved up to draft Michael Vick in 2001. But who will be the team that lands Griffin? We have a good number of teams that could make the move, but with a strong group of Free Agent QBs lead by Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn available it makes this answer very murky. Let's take a look at the teams that could very well move up to get the talented Heisman Trophy Winner.

Top Contenders

Cleveland Browns
The Browns make the most sense for RG3. They have the most ammunition to make a trade (2 1st round picks this year) and are sitting at the #4 spot which won't take too much to move up. Add in that Colt McCoy has really struggled and doesn't look to have what it takes to be a Franchise QB. However, with GM Mike Holmgren in charge don't think that this is a slam dunk decision they'll move up to get him. Sure if RG3 falls to them at #4 they very well could take him. But Holmgren likes to accumulate draft picks rather than trade them away. And he has never taken a QB in the first round. He chooses to instead go out and get one. That means we need to look for them to be a major player in the Matt Flynn sweepstakes or bring in somebody else. But when it comes to the draft, you never know.

Washington
When you are starting John Beck and Rex Grossman at QB this past year, you know you need a QB badly. Mike Shanahan prefers to have a veteran QB, so you know they'll go after Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn aggressively. But I don't see Peyton Manning going there and the same with Flynn. A guy that they might end up with is Kyle Orton. But that doesn't mean he is a long term anwser. Robert Griffin would be their best choice. Shanahan loves mobile QBs who have strong arms. That describes Griffin very well. The thing to focus on here is the urgency Shanahan will have to get a QB. He needs a QB desperately. DESPERTELY. And if they are unable to land a quality free agent QB, moving up from #6 to the #2 spot will be a win at all costs for this organization.

Miami
Don't let the play of Matt Moore fool you. We saw this a couple of years ago when he took over for Jake Delhomme in Carolina and looked good to finish the season. The next year Moore was given the starting QB spot and struggled and then was released. With a new head coach in town they won't have any aligence to Moore and will look to find their QB of the future. The Dolphins have to be the leading candidate to get Matt Flynn. Mainly because of his ties to Philbin who was the offensive coordinator in Green Bay while Flynn was the backup. Besides Flynn they'll look to go after Manning also. However if they don't get either of those two, they could go after RG3 or wait till the 2nd round and get Ryan Tannehill who played for new Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at Texas A&M.

Seattle
Whenever mock drafts or projections are made we haven't really heard much about Seattle moving up. A big part of that might have to deal with them picking at #12. But sometimes it's the teams that fly under the radar that get the job done and pull the trigger. Like a majority of the above teams, they'll be in the running for Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning. They and the Dolphins are the favorites to get Flynn in my opinion. However if Seattle strikes out with Flynn and Manning (aren't getting him IMO) they could feel the pressure to get a top flight QB prospect and move up to get RG3. But moving up from 12 would take a lot more than the other teams and the Seahawks would have to give up at least next year's 1st round pick along with their current 2nd rounder at least. That might be too rich for this team.

Wildcards

Arizona
The Cardinals have been talking opening about improving the QB position all off season and didn't shy away from it on the opening day of the combine. But their target is Peyton Manning for a shot fix before moving back to Kevin Kolb or John Skelton. However if they want to upgrade the QB position, you can't rule out RG3. It's a long shot, but you never really know.

Dallas
Would you really be shocked if Dallas made a move to go and get RG3? I sure wouldn't. Tony Romo is alright, but he isn't an elite player and there have been rumors that Jerry Jones has considered upgrading. Robert Griffin to Dallas makes some sense. The Baylor prospect is born and raised in Texas and a dynamic playmaker. Sounds like a guy that Jerry Jones would love to have. And when Jerry wants a player and can make it happen, he usually pulls out all the stops.

My prediction for the team to get RG3........Washington Redskins

Winners and Losers (NFL Free Agency Period)

As training camps begin to open up, the free agency period is basically over. Lets take a look at who is going into the season looking good and who could have done better.

Winners

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The signing of Nnamdi Asomugha alone could net the Eagles the top winner of free agency. Asomugha is the top cornerback in the league and fits in perfectly with their scheme. Him, Astante Samuel, and another new face Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie gives the Eagles the best secondary in the NFL and maybe the top cornerback group in NFL history. Add in that they added two stellar defensive lineman in Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. And the Eagles defense which was already good, entered the elite category.

2. Houston Texans

Now the Texans additions weren't as flashy as the Eagles but their additions will greatly improve their biggest weakness. Last year the Texans finished 32nd in the league in pass defense. The Texans went out and got Jonathan Joseph who doesn't get the recognition of Nnamdi Asomugha but is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the NFL. This move allows the Texans to move Glover Quinn to free safety where his skills are better suited. Then the Texans signed Daniel Manning who has been the Chicago Bears starting strong safety the past couple of years. It may only be two players but the Texans secondary will improve at three positions and won't be the liability they were last year.

3. Arizona Cardinals

I was very adamant leading up to the draft that the Cardinals wouldn't draft a quarterback and would go after a veteran. Sure enough the Cardinals passed on Blaine Gabbert and instead went ahead and traded for their new franchise quarterback in Kevin Kolb. Sure they gave up a 2nd round pick and a Pro Bowl cornerback in DRC, but if Kevin Kolb turns out to be a franchise quarterback its all worth it. You can always get a high caliber cornerback in the 2nd or 3rd round. But its not that easy to get a high caliber quarterback. Now the Cardinals didn't stop there. They also added Todd Heap who is still one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Now instead of having John Skelton, Max Hall, or Derek Anderson as their QB they'll have Kevin Kolb and he'll be throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerrald and Todd Heap. Throw in Stewart Bradley as new inside linebacker and you have a much improve Cardinals team.

4. New England Patriots

I don't know why everybody gets so surprised when the Patriots are able to get these high profile players. They do it every year. Whether its Randy Moss, Corey Dillion, Adalius Thomas, or anybody else. They always are able to "rob" teams for these players. They got both Chad Johnson and Albert Haynesworth for late round picks. Haynesworth will be rejuvenated playing for the Patriots and Johnson will give the Patriots the deep threat that they lacked last year.

5. Carolina Panthers

Carolina didn't really go out and sign anybody new but the best thing they did was not let their young players get away. DE Charles Johnson, LB James Anderson, LB Thomas Davis, and RB DeAngelo Williams. Add in that they signed Jeremy Shockey before the lockout began and only gave up a 3rd round pick for TE Greg Olsen and its a pretty good couple of days for the Panthers. Although the Panthers had the worse record in the NFL last year they aren't too far off from being competitive. Olsen and Shockey give the Panthers another couple of weapons to take the pressure off of Steve Smith and give whoever is their quarterback a safety blanket.

Losers

1. Chicago Bears

The Bears were able to sign some players but not the ones that would address any of their biggest needs. Roy Williams gives them a big bodied receiver who had his best year under Mike Martz. Vernon Gholston and Amobi Okoye have the talent but haven't shown it yet. But the Bears are on the losers list because they failed to improve the offensive line which was their biggest weakness last year. How they didn't get a guard baffles me. They invested so much in Jay Cutler but to allow him to take the beating he does and not doing anything about it is ridiculous. I guess they are hoping Chris Williams improves from last year or Frank Omiyale can slide into guard and play better than he did two years ago there.

2. Dallas Cowboys

When the lockout ended the Cowboys were the most active. But it was cutting talent and not bringing it in. They cut Marion Barber, Roy Williams, and Leonard Davis in an effort to free up money to go after premier free agents like Nnamdi Asomugha. However all that they did was give Doug Free a bigger contract that he deserves. Now Free is a quality left tackle, but isn't worth the money that he got. Kinda a disappoint for a team that was so active at the beginning.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Many people expect big things from the Bucs. They have a really talented young team that really surprised people with their strong play last year. And they have a ton of money that they had to spend to get over the salary floor that was agreed upon during the lockout. So with the need for cornerback you would think they would make a big run for Asomugha or Joseph and throw a ton of money their way. But they didn't. They could have also used a running back like Reggie Bush to complement LeGarrett Blount but they missed on him too. Their biggest expenditure was on a punter. Way to go Tampa, give the punter all the money.

4. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins looked to be the team that was going to go after one of the top free agent quarterbacks in an effort to give Chad Henne some competition and hopefully win the job. They looked to have a deal worked out for Kyle Orton, but that fell through. But instead they got Matt Moore. Yes from Orton to Moore. That's going to be one heck of a QB battle. They did trade for Reggie Bush so at least they improved their offense a little bit. But other than that, it wasn't good for the Dolphins.

5. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings were probably the biggest loser of the whole free agency period. They lost their top receiver and a starting defensive end but their top player they brought in was an aging Donovan McNabb. Now McNabb would have been a great pickup a couple of years ago, but he just suffered through a season where he just looked lost. The Vikings have a ton of talent and if they could have kept their guys and brought in some secondary help they could have been right back in the playoff hunt, but now they are looking to be picking in the top 10 next year.

Underrated Free Agent Moves

Going into this abbreviated free agency period we all heard about the big names like Nnamdi Asomugha, Sidney Rice, Logan Mankins, and Santonio Holmes but there are plenty of other free agents that have signed with new teams that are going to pay immediate dividends this upcoming season. Here is a look a ten moves that weren't talked about much, but will be crucial to that teams success.

1. Jonathan Joseph CB to the Houston Texans
It surprises me how little attention Jonathan Joseph got during this time period. Now he isn't on the same level as Nnamdi Asomugha but he is just a notch below. ESPN.com did a great job breaking down the numbers between Joseph and Asomugha and Joseph was actually on level with him. The problem was that Jospeh was targeted more frequently than Asomugh. The Texans with this signing solved a big issue they had last season. Glover Quinn and Kareem Jackson were torched last season and there was nobody else behind them. Jackson is going into his second season and should improve, while Quinn will likely move to FS which better suites his skills. A great pick up for the Texans which should allow them to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.


2. Steve Breaston WR to the Kansas City Chiefs
When you have Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin on your team you often times get overlooked. Now Breaston isn't a #1 type receiver but he does a great job stretching the field and making it easier for the #1 guy. Breaston is reuniting with Todd Haley who was the offensive coordinator a couple years back in Arizona and it won't take long for him to get adjusted. Breaston will fit in well with Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin and give Matt Cassell three very good options. Lets just say touchdowns will be aplenty this season in Kansas City.


3. Robert Gallary G to the Seattle Seahawks
A lot of people think that Robert Gallary is a colossal bust. After being drafted #2 overall, Gallary struggled at left tackle. But being moved inside to guard Gallary has really come into his own and has performed at a Pro Bowl level. You still don't think of a guard as being #2 overall worthy, but he is a starter in the league and you can't say that about every top 10 pick. Gallary here follows former Raider head coach Tom Cable to Seattle (now the O-line coach) and will fill in at the left guard spot that hasn't been filled since Steve Hutchinson left years ago. Gallary fits great into the zone blocking scheme that the Seahawks run and help improve the group that Seattle has really tried to make a strength.


4. Darren Sproles RB to the New Orleans Saints
This signing really surprised me. With the Saints drafting Mark Ingram it looked like that move would force Reggie Bush out. The last thing I thought they would do would bring in another running back. This must mean that either Chris Ivroy or Pierre Thomas might be out as well. Sproles comes in and takes over Bush's role as the back that will catch passes out of the backfield and return kicks and punts. Sproles has regress the past two seasons but is still an upgrade over Bush.


5. Willis McGahee RB to the Denver Broncos
Now McGahee isn't the every down workhorse that he use to be. But John Fox really loves to run the ball and after DeAngelo Williams decided to return to Carolina, there wasn't many options left. Denver doesn't have many options at the position and somebody had to be brought in. Knowshon Moreno has the talent to be the feature back, but hasn't shown that he can stay healthy. McGahee gives the Broncos a tough runner who will go between the tackles and hopefully allow Moreno to fill a complementary role before eventually taking over the position.


6. Justin Durant LB to the Detroit Lions
One of the biggest weaknesses the Lions had this past season was their linebacking core. DeAndre Levy has emerged as a starter at either MLB or SLB. Other than Levy there wasn't much talent there. Durant has a lot of talent, but is often injured. If he can stay healthy he'll do a lot to improve the linebackers and help out what looks to be one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.


7. Stewart Bradley LB to the Arizona Cardinals
When healthy Stewart Bradley was a Pro Bowl Caliber middle linebacker a perfect fit for the Eagles attacking defense. However Bradley hasn't been healthy the past two years and the Eagles weren't willing to take the risk anymore. Now Bradley goes out to Arizona and should fit very well in the Cardinals 3-4 defense. Bradley is an excellent blitzer and does well in coverage too. If healthy he could help fill the shoes of Karlos Danby who left before last year. This is a nice low risk high reward possibility.


8. Dwan Landry S to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Dwan Landry is a very solid safety who was often overshadowed by the likes of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Terrell Suggs. However Landry is a very good strong safety that help out the run and not be a liability in coverage. He helps out the Jaguars whose secondary is awful. Landry should step in immediately and help to improve a group that is void of a lot of talent.


9. Barry Coefield DT to the Washington Redskins
The plan was for Albert Haynesworth to be a force in the middle of the Redskins 3-4 defense. However Haynesworth wasn't too keen on being a NT in the 3-4 and his effort showed. Now that he is gone the Redskins needed a new person in the middle and went out on got Coefield who had been with the Giants. Coefield hasn't played in the 3-4 so it will be interested to see how he does. But the Redskins are getting a solid run stuffer to add that they haven't had the past two years.


10. Harvey Dahl G to the St. Louis Rams
Now that the Rams have their franchise quarterback its important to build around him. They have drafted their two bookend tackles and now they get some help on the interior. Dahl is a nasty guard who plays on edge. He'll be a huge help in the run game and give the rest of the offensive line some toughness that they could really use.