Landing spots for Robert Griffin III
— -- Last offseason, before the Washington Redskins named Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback, 35 NFL coaches and personnel evaluators graded projected starters for our annual Quarterback Tier Rankings survey. Robert Griffin III ranked fifth from the bottom at No. 28. Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer, Matt Cassel and Geno Smith were the only projected starters listed below him.
Could the reality be as bad as the perception for a player who dazzled the NFL as a rookie during the 2012 season? The market will answer that question after the Redskins inevitably release Griffin in the coming weeks.
Griffin could benefit from a change of scenery, but many within the league believe that a new mindset is what he has needed the most. A personnel director said last offseason he thought Griffin was starting to show positive signs on that front.
"We have seen a little more humility out of him, and hopefully that translates to his preparation and his play," this director said. "He has to rethink and reframe how he plays."
Putting together a short list of "fits" for Griffin must account for the reality that NFL teams think Griffin has more name than game at this point. Some of the teams listed below might show no interest at all, but as the price for Griffin drops, upside can begin to outweigh risks.
Five interesting potential fits for RG III
1. Buffalo Bills: Tyrod Taylor finished his first season as the Bills' starter with a winning percentage, passer rating and Total QBR in line with the ones that will earn Cousins a huge raise from Washington. Taylor is not a free agent, however, and that means Buffalo can get another low-cost year from him before deciding how to proceed.
Bringing in Griffin as insurance and/or to push Taylor for the starting job could make sense for the Bills. Backup EJ Manuel's career appears to have run its course in Buffalo. His expected departure would open a spot for Griffin to compete with Taylor, whose deal voids after the 2016 season. Griffin would fit better in coordinator Greg Roman's offense than he would in most other systems, making Buffalo one of the few natural scheme fits.
2. Dallas Cowboys: The assumption here is that Dallas will not want to use the fourth overall choice in the 2016 draft on a quarterback. Griffin could come cheap and without risk. The Cowboys would be adding a young insurance policy for Tony Romo without undermining him. Griffin would have a reasonable chance to play in 2016, given Romo's combination of age and recent injuries, but he would come to Dallas without starting expectations. If all went well, Griffin could get both time to assimilate and opportunities to play in an offense featuring talented linemen and receiving weapons.
3. Los Angeles Rams: On paper, the Rams have the defense and running game to support the kind of low-volume passing attack to help a quarterback survive. On the field, those things were insufficient for the Rams to win consistently with Nick Foles as their starting quarterback in 2015. The Rams are heading into the offseason with Foles and Case Keenum operating under a first-time NFL playcaller in Rob Boras. They didn't like Griffin enough to draft him second overall in 2012. There is less to like about Griffin now, but if the price were right, the Rams could at least consider buying another raffle ticket at the position.
4. Denver Broncos: Coach Gary Kubiak's offensive design and commitment to the running game can create the kind of inviting play-action throwing lanes Griffin used effectively during his rookie season. Peyton Manning's decline and expected retirement could put pressure on Denver to re-sign Brock Osweiler. The Broncos also seem to like having 2015 seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian in their program. But the bottom line in Denver is that the quarterback position is unsettled for the first time since 2011. The Broncos have both the scheme and strong organizational structure to make them a fit for Griffin.
Some thought Griffin wielded too much influence in Washington before the Redskins benched him. Griffin will not enjoy the same power in his next stop, but it wouldn't be an option in Denver anyway. Kubiak came to Denver with a reputation among other coaches for telling his quarterbacks how they were going to do things -- on his terms, not theirs. The way he dictated terms to Manning this season showed that reputation was well-earned.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Coach Andy Reid has signed quite a few mobile quarterbacks over the years, including current starter Alex Smith. He also has implemented college spread concepts after hiring former Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress to research them. Those concepts could suit Griffin.
The stability and professionalism Reid and Smith bring to their jobs also could benefit Griffin as he attempts to remake himself. He has not had veteran quarterback mentors in the past. Smith is the clear starter, so playing time could be elusive for Griffin, but with Chiefs backup Chase Daniel eligible for free agency, there could be an opening.