INDIANAPOLIS — The St. Louis Rams must be giddy.
They are the biggest winners of the NFL Scouting Combine, a peculiar scouting event that has increased the nonstop offseason NFL chatter.
The Rams leave the combine with smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts.
They have the second pick in the draft — dibs on Robert Griffin III — and don't need it because they already have a solid quarterback in Sam Bradford. Which means that the Rams own the best piece of property this side of Malibu.
Every move Griffin made the past few days seemed to increase his stature — at least in the eyes of NFL scouts. St. Louis will benefit because every impressive move by Griffin makes their asking price for that second pick that much higher. In the past, the asking price for trading up to get a quarterback started with two first-round draft picks. The Browns have two to offer, if they so choose.
But the buzz about Griffin has overwhelmed the pre-draft chatter to the point that it almost seems possible that St. Louis could demand — and get — three first-round picks for the second pick. It's a ton, and it's unprecedented. But so is the hype about Griffin — and the evaluations of his abilities.
Coach Jeff Fisher said how the Rams handle the second pick could determine the long- and short-term future of the franchise.
At this point, the Rams have to be smiling. A lot.
When a trade is completed, the price to acquire the right to draft Griffin could cause an earthquake in the NFL world. It will be that high.
Other combine winners and losers include …
Winner: Griffin
Impressions and 40 times do not win games. The ability to read the defense and throw does. So Griffin gains nothing by impressing the media in a 12-minute session. Also, it meant a lot that the Chiefs and coach Romeo Crennel raved about Griffin's interview because they are the people judging him.
Griffin did nothing to dispel talk that he will be the second player selected. He was engaging, funny, direct, honest and, when he ran, fast. Very fast. His 40 time of 4.38 seconds should have coaches dreaming up creative ways to use him in NFL offenses.
It's hard to think that Griffin could have improved his stock at the combine, but he did just that.
Loser: The Washington Redskins
If Washington wants to move up from the sixth spot to take Griffin, it will have to pay premium price. For two reasons: St. Louis would have a much better chance of getting the player it wants at four than six, and with every fast time Griffin runs the asking price goes up.
Washington might be able to acquire Griffin, but it might have to mortgage picks in three drafts to do so. Thing is, if there is one owner in the league who gives off the aura he'd do just that, it's Daniel Snyder.
Winner: Cleveland Browns
The only team that needs a quarterback with two first-round picks to offer is Cleveland. That gives them the immediate early edge in the second-pick auction with the Rams. The Browns won't reveal their thinking — nor should they because they may need to rely on Colt McCoy if every other option falls through — but it sure would be fascinating to be the proverbial fly on the wall during their discussions about the quarterback spot.
Loser: Matt Flynn
This could change in two weeks when free agency begins, but the chatter on Flynn has reduced considerably. It could be that most folks expect Flynn to go with his former coach (Joe Philbin) to Miami, but it also could be that the new rookie salary scale has had serious effects on people's thinking.
Flynn brings more experience than Griffin or Ryan Tannehill, but his contract could be double — which means the salary cap space he'll eat up will be considerable. It seems like teams would rather have Griffin at $21 million for four years rather than Flynn for $50 million for six.
Winner: Andrew Luck
The lock-certain first overall pick cruised through with nary a question or second glance. So much attention has been paid to Griffin that Luck was almost an afterthought — and he will be the first player selected.
Loser: Janoris Jenkins
Great talent but questionable off-field concerns will affect his standing. Jenkins deserves credit for answering questions about his arrests, marijuana use (which he said is in the past) and his four kids (ages 3, 2, 1 and three months). He did not hide in the least, and said he had learned from it. But those decisions could cost him on draft day.
Winner: Michael Floyd
The 40 time is greatly overrated, but the Notre Dame receiver ran 4.46. That time could put him into the bottom third of the first round.
Loser: Mike Adams
Hands down, not even close … the Ohio State tackle lost the most at this combine. Adams arrived with the rep for not being the hardest of workers. He was suspended for being involved in the tattoo stuff that led to Jim Tressel's exit. And Adams wound up doing 19 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. That tied for the fifth-lowest of any offensive lineman.
That raised a lot of eyebrows — not because he had a bad day lifting but because a lift like that indicates a serious lack of strength and work. It's not something that can be fixed in the three weeks before Ohio State's Pro Day March 22.
Adams had been projected as a possible late-first round choice, but that lift will prompt him to tumble out of the first round — and perhaps out of the second round.
