The End Of A Historical Era: Remembering The Robert Griffin III Trade

Dec 1, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback

III (10) attempts a pass as New York Giants defensive end

(94) rushes during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Later tonight will mark the end of an era. An era that basically helped lift this team up from basically nothing. If you haven’t already guessed, I am talking about the RGIII trade that Les Snead pulled off in 2012 that gave the Rams three first round picks and a second round pick. Yes, that era.

In my opinion, neither the Rams nor the Redskins came out on top of this trade more than the other. This was what you could expect from the perfect trade. The Redskins received their franchise quarterback that won rookie of the year and lead the team to the playoffs in his rookie season.

The Rams on the other hand have completely rebuilt their roster from basically nothing and have became respectable. To say one team came out better is ridiculous for the time being. In reality, only time will tell.

Former general manager Charley Casserly said it best,

"“Ultimately this comes down to: Can the Rams get to the playoffs? And can the Redskins get to the playoffs more than one time?” Casserly said. “The Redskins got the early lead in the clubhouse because they made it to the playoffs once. But you need time with the Rams because they’re depending on all these young players.”"

The Redskins did make the playoffs in Griffin III’s rookie season and could have won their first home playoff game since 1999 had he not been hurt. The Rams on the other hand are still maturing as a team.

In the trade so far, the Rams have received

• DT Michael Brockers
• CB Janoris Jenkins
• RB Isaiah Pead
• G Rokevious Watkins
• LB Alec Ogletree
• WR Stedman Bailey
• RB Zac Stacy
•  2014 #2 pick

The Rams have hit on all but one of two of those players, and the other six will have large roles in the organization moving forward. Brockers will be the center of the defensive line for years to come while Jenkins covers the outside. If  Laurinaitis moves on from St. Louis, Ogletree will be the middleman and leader of the defense. Stedman Bailey looked like he could be quite the offensive weapon and Zac Stacy filled the hole Steven Jackson left quite nicely and will be the Rams running back for year’s to come.

“Ultimately there’s going to be a player that the Rams got from the trade that’s going to be a good player,” Tim Hasselbeck said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams got it right.”

The Rams have also missed on Isaiah Pead who has gone from second round pick to now special teams player that still manages to mess up and Watkins who isn’t even on the team anymore.

The Redskins on the other hand have been to the playoffs once and in Griffin III’s third season, there are already questions of whether or not he can still be the team’s quarterback moving forward.

The Rams have received six starters compared to the Redskins’ one. Some will wonder, ‘what if the Rams stayed at two and took Robert Griffin III and traded Sam Bradford to the Browns?’ Nobody will ever know the answer, but to say Griffin III would have came in and taken the Rams to the playoffs his rookie season, I don’t think so. As of now the Rams have benefited more from rebuilding their roster than they would have taking the so-called franchise quarterback .

Tonight will mark the final year of that trade and the Rams have a lot of options. They can take straight up take a franchise left tackle, wide receiver,  pass rusher, or quarterback, or they could trade down and continue to receive from the gift that keeps on giving.

What the Rams do with the pick will determine which direction the franchise goes. Pick up a franchise player and the Rams go forward, pick a bust, and you set the franchise back a couple of years.

This may be the last pick of the RGIII trade, but it could most definitely be the most important. This may be the end of an era, but the players that were selected in the trade, will have eyes on them their entire careers.