Washington parting ways with Griffin III; where could he end up?
Washington president Bruce Allen affirmed Tuesday that quarterback Robert Griffin III won’t be with the team in the 2016 season. Though it seemed a foregone conclusion that Washington would be parting ways with the 2012 first-round pick, Allen’s comments on San Diego radio station The Mighty 1090 respresent the first time anyone in power with the club went on the record with the plans.
Asked if Griffin will be on the roster this season, Allen said, “Well, no, I see Robert getting an opportunity with another team. We’ve heard from some teams that are interested. I think he’s going to have a choice of a couple teams that will let him excel in the future.”
Griffin lost his job to fellow 2012 pick Kirk Cousins last year, and not only did he lose his job as starter, coach Jay Gruden demoted Griffin to third-string and the No. 2 overall pick just four years earlier was active for just one game.
“From the very beginning, Robert has handled himself like a professional,” Allen said. “When we drafted him [and] all the way through, he’s been a good teammate and a good guy. I know some people on the outside always like to be critical, but his teammates like him, his coaches like him and he does have some special talents and we wish him well.”
Washington could trade Griffin, or it can cut him before March 9 without having to carry any of his $16.2 million salary for this season on the salary cap.
So where could he end up? Here’s a few ideas:
Dallas Cowboys: Griffin spent the bulk of his childhood in Texas, and won the Heisman Trophy while playing at Baylor University in the state, so going home likely holds appeal. He would likely be Tony Romo’s backup, but Romo will be 36 in April and is a decade older than Griffin. As we saw last season, when Dallas started Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden and Kellen Moore (combined record: 1-11) when Romo broke and re-broke his collarbone, the team needs a competent backup.
Los Angeles Rams: They gave the Philadelphia Eagles Sam Bradford and got Nick Foles in exchange, and the move didn’t work out. Foles was benched before the season ended. In a draft without a surefire, ready-to-start-Day 1 quarterback, the Rams could turn to Griffin, who has experience and enough of a name that he could excite the fan base as they return to Los Angeles.
San Francisco 49ers: It’s unclear what Chip Kelly plans to do at quarterback. Is Colin Kaepernick done with the Niners? Will Kelly see if Blaine Gabbert can run his offense? At minimum, Griffin could be brought in to challenge for the starting job.
New York Jets: It seems the Jets love Ryan Fitzpatrick, but is he any kind of long-term answer? Fitzpatrick is what he is, and while he had some excellent games, in Week 17, when the Jets were in a must-win game, he had two touchdowns and three interceptions in a loss. New York drafted Bryce Petty last season, and if team brass like what it has seen, it’ll likely have less of a need to pursue Griffin.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson isn’t going anywhere, but Seattle’s backup quarterback is Tarvaris Jackson, and Wilson has taken a lot of hits behind a leaky offensive line.
Denver Broncos: If Peyton Manning retires, the assumption is Brock Osweiler will be the Broncos’ starter. Osweiler has only seven career starts. He looked good in most of those, but is that enough of a body of work to hand him the job for the foreseeable future?
