Certainly the biggest story of next month’s NFL draft is where Baylor quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will land. Almost everyone is saying the speedy dual-threat QB is a lock to go second overall after Andrew Luck, but the St. Louis Rams, currently slotted with second pick, are all set wit quarterback Sam Bradford. So that’s fueled rampant trade rumors and speculation coming out of the combine, particularly centered on the Washington Redskins and your Cleveland Browns.
Mary Kay Cabot added a little to the story on Sunday morning, relaying a report from St. Louis that the Browns are not willing to throw in their No. 22 pick in the first round to move up and acquire the Rams pick.
#Browns are unwilling to trade their No. 22 pick to the Rams at this point, league sources told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 4, 2012
This could take the Browns out of the running for RGIII – at the moment. The St. Louis report still rates the Redskins as the frontrunners to land the pick. There’s still plenty of time for things to change and develop, as it’s the silly season, and every negotiation starts with a hardline.
The Post-Dispatch details exactly what’s on the table from all of the other Rams potential trade partners as well:
• Washington (No. 6): The Redskins appear willing to trade their first-round pick next year, as well as their No. 6 overall pick this year. But they aren’t willing to include their second-rounder this year, which isn’t acceptable to the Rams.
• Miami (No. 8): This one appears to be dead in the water, somewhere off Florida’s Gold Coast. After losing the tug-of-war for coach Jeff Fisher, the Dolphins aren’t eager to do business with the Rams — or do the Rams any favors.
• Seattle (No. 12): No chance. The last thing the Rams want to do is send RG3 to a division rival and face him twice a year. The same applies for Arizona, which picks 13th.
[Related: NFL Draft: The Browns can't win a bidding war]
