Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Robert Griffin III enters the 2015 offseason as the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins. Beyond that, head coach Jay Gruden and general manager Scot McCloughan are making no assurances.
That includes the commitment to pick up Griffin’s fifth-year option. McLoughan said recently the Redskins are undecided on whether to activate the 2016 contract year as part of Griffin’s rookie deal.
Gruden said he would like Griffin, the No. 2 overall pick in 2012 who has been benched late in each of the past two seasons, to grab hold of the starting gig and not let go.
“He’s got the starting job right now,” Gruden said. “Hopefully he takes the job and runs with it.”
But that could come after the Redskins draft a quarterback.
Washington has the fifth overall pick and after a few dry drafts, a byproduct of the bounty paid to acquire the draft pick from the Rams to select Griffin, could consider Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota if he’s available. Jameis Winston, NFLDraftScout.com’s top-ranked passer, is expected to be off the board with the first pick.
“If we think it’s worth the risk to hit the reset button, if he’s that good of a football player, if we decide in the building that he’s that good of a football player that we think we should do that, then we should do that,” Gruden said.
Gruden was frank about Griffin’s average performance last season, when his leadership was openly questioned and reports of a locker-room schism between Griffin and other team leaders percolated.
Gruden and McCloughan could be trying to drum up interest in the pick, but any movement could come earlier in the draft. Given recent experience, moving down to accumulate picks and perhaps a new quarterback is a realistic option.
Gruden helped develop Andy Dalton, a second-round pick, in Cincinnati and McCloughan was with the Seahawks as third-rounder Russell Wilson pushed Seattle to the Super Bowl.
One potential target is Garrett Grayson of Colorado State, a player Jon Gruden said could be a second-round pick or higher. Jon Gruden compared Grayson to Jimmy Garoppolo, a second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2014.
The Redskins have three quarterbacks on the roster. Kurt Cousins and Colt McCoy, who re-signed earlier this month, are also in contract years.
