There are a lot of teams interested in the services of Robert Griffin III. Honestly speaking, I feel he has the largest ceiling of any player in the NFL draft. There is one team, though that can benefit from Robert Griffin more than any other team. Who is that team?
The San Francisco 49ers.
Let’s really play this scenario out. Alex Smith played well, but he is NOWHERE near the player that Robert Griffin can be. Griffin has the arm and the intelligence to play right away in Harbaugh’s system. The 49ers lacked a consistent passing game (29th in the NFL) with above average WRs and a really good TE. Tom Brady had 2 really good TEs and average WRs; this shows you just how important QB play is in the NFL. Crabtree hasn’t lived up to his potential, Ted Guinn was hurt a good portion of the year, as well as Braylon Edwards. Vernon Davis is a matchup nightmare. Another good thing that he 49ers can give Griffin is a RB in Frank Gore that will keep the defenses off of him and a very solid offensive line.
Griffin will also benefit in this system will be because of the coaching of Jim Harbaugh. Hands down he was the best coach in the NFL last year. The job he did with Alex Smith was a thing of beauty. Can you imagine what he can do with a QB that has a ceiling as high as RGIII? There is no doubt in my mind that with a good QB, the 49ers can become the team to beat in the NFC. Why; because unlike Green Bay, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, San Francisco has a defense that is one of the best in the league (ranked 4th in the NFL). They are fast, physical, and in my opinion is the best tackling team in the NFL. If you put a good offense opposite them on the field, this team can build on the 13-3 season that the 49ers had under Alex Smith. The sky is the limit for this team with consistent and solid QB play.
But what do you give up for him to ensure that you get him before the other teams that are licking their chops to get him? I say this year’s first and third, next year’s first. I think this is a risk that a team that has the talent level of the 49ers to take on a player of this caliber. Robert Griffin took a Baylor team that was for the longest time the laughing stock of the Big XII to finish 3rd in the conference. The previous high in wins for Baylor was 7. This year they won 10 games and a bowl game. There is no question of the kid’s character as well. He is very well spoken, smart (graduated in 3 years), and stays out of the headlines except for his positive deeds. This kid can be the face of a franchise, and the San Francisco 49ers need a new face since there hasn’t really been one there at QB since Steve Young.
It’s tough to say who will be and who won’t be a good NFL player. Heisman trophy candidates haven’t had the best track record in the NFL as of late. Robert Griffin is one of those athletes that don’t come along too often. So take your shot on him, San Francisco. Is Alex Smith really the long term answer at QB? Based on the job that Harbaugh is doing, it doesn’t look like you are going to be getting high draft picks. Take your chances now. Maybe Griffin can follow in Cam Newton’s footsteps in continuing his dominance in his rookie season.
