The NFL Combine didn't need to work any wonders on Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, but it managed to do so anyway. RGIII had a sparkling combine complete with a 4.38 40 time, enough to make any General Manager drool. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is well known for that sort of thing and in the latest SB Nation 2012 NFL Mock Draft his Skins are the favorite to trade up and snag Griffin.
The Browns instead get Alabama RB Trent Richardson, not a terrible consolation prize by any means. They also bolster their offense with their 22nd pick -- usually not thought about with the St. Louis Rams getting it from a trade in most mocks featuring RGIII to Cleveland -- picking up WR Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina.
The Browns passed on Justin Blackmon with their first pick, but I don't think they pass on a wide receiver with their second pick. There is some thought that they might look at QB Ryan Tannehill with this pick, but I suspect any QB addition might be a little bit later. They need more skill position players and Jeffery provides some upside for this offense. And if Colt McCoy can't make this work, time to find a new QB. There had been some concerns about weight issues with Jeffery, but he came in to the Combine at 216 pounds. He did not run the 40 though, which raises some question marks about whether he sapped strength with a crash diet. His Pro Day will be closely watched and he could slip-slide down draft boards with a poor showing.
Either way, it looks like we're going to see a lot of new offensive talent in Cleveland come 2012, be it a sparkling new QB or a bunch of position players to add points to Colt McCoy's offense. The question is, will the two picks they get without Griffin ever be able to beat the talent they would get by adding him?
For more on the Cleveland Browns, head to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the draft in general, head to Mocking The Draft or the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.