Once again, rumors about Robert Griffin III are dominating headlines when it comes to Washington football. This time, however, the speculation may be justified, as a story that broke earlier this week has league sources indicating that if Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is still available when Washington drafts with the fifth pick, the team will absolutely select him.
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Head coach Jay Gruden made it pretty clear last year that he is not a fan of RG3, and it would not surprise anyone if the team wants to draft another quarterback. But if they elect to go that route, what becomes of the former Heisman winner from Baylor?
Griffin does have a team option for a fifth year on his contract that has to be picked up by May 3, which is the day after the draft ends. If Washington drafts Mariota, then they almost certainly will not pick up Griffin's option.
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It is unlikely that the team will outright release RG3, as young quarterbacks with lots of potential are still valuable even if everyone knows you want to get rid of them. There are plenty of quarterback-starved teams that will not be able to get help in the draft that would surely be willing to trade for Griffin.
If the team does keep Griffin on the roster, then they could elect to have him start the season under center while Mariota is groomed to take over the role as the season progresses. The team does not appear to be a playoff contender (although surprises happen every year), so making the switch to a rookie quarterback would not really damage the team's playoff hopes, and it would give Mariota valuable experience.
But keeping Griffin on the roster seems like a waste of a valuable asset. If the team does draft Mariota, then they should work to trade Griffin immediately. They would even be able to pick up his team option so that his new team would have him under contract for two seasons.
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