Quarterback Robert Griffin III signed with the Cleveland Browns.
Griffin, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Washington Redskins, was released before his fifth-year option hit the books at more than $15 million. Griffin was replaced as the starting quarterback in Washington before the 2015 season began by Kirk Cousins, who was retained in March with the Redskins’ franchise tag.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Dawg Pound and build something here in Cleveland,” Griffin said. “I’m just excited to come in and compete. “Nothing’s ever been given to me in my life. I just want to go out and compete with the guys and grow with this team.”
The Browns cut ties with Johnny Manziel and their QB picture is still developing.
Josh McCown is under contract but would be 35 before the start of the 2016 season. He could be a candidate to be traded, but Griffin didn’t play much last season and is more of a reclamation project than a readymade fix for the Browns.
“Confidence is the No. 1 key when it comes to playing quarterback in the league, aside from just the things that God blessed you with,” Griffin said on a conference call Thursday. “I think my confidence will continually grow as I continue to work with my teammates coming up on April 4 and trusting the guys around me. They’ve got some special players there that want to win now, and I look forward to growing with them, talking with them and just not really putting everything on my shoulders to try to do it by myself. I know that those guys there can play, and I’ve just go to help them show that.”
Cleveland also owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft and sent a large presence, headlined by vice president Sashi Brown and head coach Hue Jackson, to the pro day workout of North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz in Fargo.
“We are excited to add Robert to our team,” said Brown. “Robert possesses a unique skill set at the quarterback position. He has played at a high level in this league and is intent on doing everything in his power to return to that level on a consistent basis. After meeting with him, having him work out for us and doing our diligent research, we felt it was right to grant him an opportunity with our organization. We were able to see and feel his passion and commitment to re-establishing himself as a starting quarterback in this league and his embrace of the hard work that will be is essential to his development.”
The Browns were also highly visible at Cal quarterback Jared Goff’s workout last week.
Solving the quarterback pecking order remains a mission for a franchise that has failed to find a permanent solution at the position for nearly two decades. The next starter for the Browns would be the 25th since Cleveland’s franchise was restored in 1999.
Cleveland showed some interest in San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, with Jackson being a vocal supporter, but the price tag for a trade was high.