Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson are so similar, yet they are so different.

One played for Baylor and now plays for the Washington Redskins. One went from NC State to Wisconsin to the Seahawks. One was picked second overall (in the NFL Draft) while the other was picked in the middle of the third round. One is featured on numerous Subway commercials, while another keeps a relatively low profile.

But, in hindsight, they are very similar. It almost seems like they’re carbon copies of each other (if RGIII didn’t have dreadlocks).

Wilson and RGIII are both starting as rookies, and they are both manning 1-1 teams. Both have put up decent numbers for their teams, and both have brought the football spirit back to their respective cities. And along with that, they’ve brought hope to D.C. and Seattle.

There’s no question that both quarterbacks are incredibly talented. They can both throw accurate spirals inside and outside the pocket, and they can both run. However, neither one is perfect, and there’s no doubt in my mind that one quarterback is better than the other.

I was very impressed by Russell Wilson in the Seahawks-Cowboys game. He made some great throws and put up great numbers, guiding the Seahawks to a 27-7 win over a decent team. His receivers got open for him, and he kept plays alive and made accurate throws. If he wanted to leave the pocket, he did, and he made great throws there. Wilson threw the ball to the open man and kept the Dallas defense off-balance all game.

Wilson was underrated in college, and no one thought he would start Week 1. But he worked hard and outperformed Matt Flynn and Tavaris Jackson, earning the starting job. There’s no doubt that he deserves to start, and there’s no doubt that he was a draft steal. But is he really as good as RGIII?

RGIII has put up incredible stats for the Redskins, and he helped them beat the Saints in Week 1. He was great again in Week 2, but his teammates failed to pick him up in a loss to the Rams. Griffin III has 526 passing yards in his first two games, and he’s combined that with three passing and two rushing touchdowns. RGIII is proving that he has what it takes to shine on Sundays.

Griffin III is taking what the defense gives him and making plays. He can throw an accurate deep ball, as we saw in the fourth quarter against the Rams. He can run the ball if you sleep on that, as he also showed us against the Rams. And, he can complete most of his passes, step up in the pocket and deliver a hard pass into a tight window consistently.

Wilson can do that too, but he isn’t as much of a threat to run the ball or go deep as Griffin III is. He has 303 combined passing yards in two games (on 54 throws), which is less than RGIII had against the Saints. Wilson appears to be playing conservatively and trying to lead long drives, which is good.

But, he hasn’t shown the same ability RGIII has shown, in college or in the NFL.

Griffin III throws a better deep ball and is more of a threat to run than Wilson, who can run but isn’t as much of a duel-threat as RGIII. Even though Wilson has exceeded expectations, handled the pressure well and helped the Seahawks, he isn’t as valuable or as talented as RGIII.

Because at the end of the day, there’s a reason why RGIII was picked second and that Wilson wash’t picked until the third round.