Honestly, if you weren't watching football in the spring of 2012, it is hard to describe the sheer electricity surrounding Robert Griffin III. The "RG3" hype wasn't just your standard "top prospect" noise. It was a cultural event. People weren't just asking what team he'd go to; they were wondering if he was about to change the sport forever.
To get the main fact out of the way immediately: Robert Griffin III was drafted in 2012. Specifically, he was the second overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
That year, the draft was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Griffin walked onto that stage wearing a baby blue suit and some iconic burgundy and gold socks that read "Go Catch Your Dream." It was a vibe. He was the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor, and for a solid six months, you couldn't turn on a TV without seeing his face.
The Blockbuster Trade That Changed Everything
You've probably heard about the "RG3 Trade." It’s basically the gold standard for "all-in" moves in NFL history. Before the 2012 draft even started, the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) knew they wanted Griffin. They didn't have the #2 pick, though. The St. Louis Rams did.
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So, Washington sent a king's ransom to St. Louis. They gave up:
- Their 2012 first-round pick (6th overall).
- Their 2012 second-round pick.
- Their 2013 first-round pick.
- Their 2014 first-round pick.
Basically, they mortgaged three years of their future for one guy. It was a massive gamble. At the time, Mike Shanahan was the head coach, and there has been a ton of debate since then about whether he actually wanted the trade or if it was pushed by owner Dan Snyder. Regardless, on April 26, 2012, RG3 became the face of the franchise.
Why 2012 Was Such a Weirdly Loaded Draft
The 2012 draft is legendary because of the quarterback class. Andrew Luck went #1 to the Colts. He was the "safe," generational pocket passer. RG3 went #2. He was the track-star speedster with a literal cannon for an arm.
Then you had Russell Wilson, who slipped to the third round. Kirk Cousins—funnily enough, also drafted by Washington in the same year as Griffin—went in the fourth.
Most people forget that RG3 actually won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year over Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. His 2012 season was cinematic. He threw for 3,200 yards and ran for over 800. He led Washington to their first division title since 1999. He was, quite literally, the most exciting player in the world for about four months.
What Went Wrong?
It's impossible to talk about the year he was drafted without talking about how it ended. The 2012 season ended in a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Griffin was already playing on a hobbled knee (an LCL sprain from a hit against the Ravens earlier that year).
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In the fourth quarter, his knee just... snapped.
He tore his ACL, LCL, and meniscus. It was a brutal thing to watch. He was never really the same runner after that. While he played for the Browns in 2016 and the Ravens from 2018 to 2020, that 2012 magic was a specific, fleeting moment in time.
Key Stats from his Draft Year (2012)
- Draft Position: 1st Round, 2nd Overall
- Passer Rating: 102.4 (a rookie record at the time)
- Rushing Yards: 815
- Rushing TDs: 7
- Interceptions: Only 5 (insanely low for a rookie)
The Legacy of the 2012 Pick
Looking back, the RG3 era is a "what if" story. If he doesn't stay in that playoff game, does he become Patrick Mahomes before Patrick Mahomes? Maybe. He had the deep ball accuracy and the 4.33 speed that forced defenses to play differently.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into that specific era of football, here are a few things to check out:
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- Watch the 2012 Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys. It was probably the peak of his powers.
- Look up the trade tree. The picks the Rams got for RG3 eventually turned into players like Alec Ogletree and Michael Brockers, though many argue the Rams didn't maximize the value either.
- Compare his rookie season to modern dual-threats like Jayden Daniels or Lamar Jackson. You'll see a lot of the same DNA in the playbooks.
Ultimately, 2012 was the year that changed Washington football, for better and then, very quickly, for worse.
Next Steps to Explore RG3's Impact:
- Check out the "RG3: The Will to Win" documentaries or his various podcast appearances where he breaks down the 2012 season.
- Research the 2012 NFL Draft full list to see how many Pro Bowlers (like Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner) came out of that same first round.
- Analyze the current Washington Commanders roster to see how the franchise finally moved past the "quarterback carousel" that started shortly after the Griffin era ended.