Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King chatted with former general manager Ernie Accorsi and discussed what kind of deal it would take to land the number one pick to select Andrew Luck. Only one team will finish with the number one pick and a chance at the grand prize of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, and it could be worth a ransom of picks in 2012. Where's Mike Ditka when you need him?
Accorsi is the right guy to discuss this because he has been involved in two quarterback mega-deals on draft day. Accorsi was a rookie GM with the Baltimore Colts in 1983 when when owner Robert Irsay tried to move the pick that became John Elway. Accorsi was the veteran GM of the New York Giants who made a move to acquire Eli Manning in a draft that feature Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. The Manning deal worked out fairly well, while the Elway deal did not work out so well.
In discussing a possible deal, Accorsi did not go on record with a pick total for Luck specifically, but did say that if he was considered on the level of John Elway, the pick would be worth upwards of three first round picks and two second round picks. Some scouts have been comparing Luck to Elway, Peyton Manning and others. If that's the case, there could be quite the bounty for the pick.
Teams like the Colts, Dolphins and Broncos are all in the thick of the race and all could use a long term quarterback answer. At the same time, the 2012 NFL Draft will feature a variety of intriguing QB options including Oklahoma's Landry Jones and USC's Matt Barkley. No quarterback is a guarantee coming into the NFL, but if you are one of the teams need of a QB, what about trading down for one of these other options and loading up with picks to better secure the future? Andrew Luck could prove the best of all three based on his own talent, but if you can quickly surround one of the other quarterbacks with better skill position talent, do you consider a move?