Baylor QB Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy tonight, a bit of a surprise for anyone who might not have been keeping up with the shift in the voting leading up the announcement. Andrew Luck was the preseason favorite after foregoing the NFL last offseason, something we Panther fans took a little personal. But I don't write this post to gloat about Luck losing the trophy two years in a row (okay maybe a little bit).

My real interest in this event is the potential for Griffin to be on the draft board when the Panthers pick in next April's draft. The Panthers need additional picks in this draft and Griffin might be just the bait for a Panther trade back. A team like the Browns, Bills or Seahawks might be willing to deal to move up and grab the potential franchise QB. I think our own Cam Newton has shown how a mobile QB can add a dimension that is hard to defend giving Griffin added value.

Right now draft pundits are all over the board as far as where Griffin might go in the draft. CBS sports has him as the #6 ranked prospect (#3 QB). Of course that doesn't mean he will be drafted at that spot.

Draftek conversely doesn't even rank Griffin in the top 50. ESPN ranks Griffin #12. Walter Football thinks the Redskins will go for Griffin at #5 overall, probably a pick too early for the Panthers. On a slightly different note, I find it amusing that the mock drafter thinks the Jags will go QB again after taking Blaine Gabbert at #10 in last year's draft. He makes a good case I must say.

FFToolbox has Griffin at #23. So it would seem when compared to other prospects Griffin comes in much lower than when considered where he might actually be drafted. That is to be expected for QB's, especially those that could franchise QBs. Hence the reason the Panthers just might get lucky given there are 3 and possibly 4 QBs to be drafted int he top 15: Luck, Barkley, Landry & Griffin).