According to Jon Gruden, his brother's Washington Redskins are a mess. He is certainly not wrong in that assessment. The team envisioned a different record heading into the season. They had a healthy Robert Griffin III and had recently acquired DeSean Jackson in free agency. However, Griffin got injured. Kirk Cousins proved he is a backup for a reason. Colt McCoy got injury. Griffin struggled. The list goes on and on for the things that went wrong, but the quarterback play has everyone's attention. As the offseason approaches for Washington, who will be the long-term option?
After both Griffin and McCoy saw time under center in Week 14, it is McCoy that will get the start against the New York Giants. However, that all depends on his health. The quarterback suffered a neck injury in the loss to the St. Louis Rams and is questionable for the game, but head coach Jay Gruden announced (via ESPN) that if McCoy is cleared by team doctors then he will start under center.
"As long as I'm breathing, as long as I can pick up a football, I'm going to go out there and help my team win," McCoy said, via Mike Jones of the Washington Post. "There's no other way to look at it from my mind and that's the way I'm approaching it. So I'm doing all the things I need to do to be ready to play, and we'll keep moving forward."
According to the Washington Post, the Redskins are done with Griffin. It is unclear exactly what done means. The Redskins sold the farm to get the quarterback, so giving up on him after three years seems extreme. However, they would save a fair amount of cap space if they are able to release or trade him in the offseason. Teams will be interested in the quarterback, but will not pay a high price. With Griffin out, is McCoy a contender to be a long-term option?
McCoy has shown he can play well in Gruden's system. The quarterback is responsible for two of the team's three wins this year. While he is not the popular pick at quarterback, it is clear he has the ability to win games. Gruden's offense is not meant for a read option quarterback. He wants someone that can stand in the pocket and make accurate and hard throws. There was a thought that Cousins was that quarterback, but it turns out McCoy is the better option.
The former third-stringer will be a free agent in the summer. The Redskins have to decide the best option to take. Could they re-sign McCoy for cheap, draft a rookie and hope the two are enough to bring the franchise some success? Do they let go of both McCoy and Griffin and hope a new rookie steps up? If McCoy can show real flashes of talent in these remaining three games, there is a solid chance he returns to Washington. The Redskins have a lot of roster needs and would be wise not to waste that first pick on a quarterback when they could get a solid player in a later round.