The Washington Redskins have been coy about their intentions at the quarterback position, but the NFL Annual Meeting is starting to paint a much clearer picture. The Redskins are prepared to enter the 2015 season with the same quarterback rotation as last season with Robert Griffin III, Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins, but there is growing doubt about those three and their potential to succeed. Drafting at No. 5, a quarterback could be the priority.
Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan told the media on Tuesday that the franchise was very open to drafting a quarterback at No. 5, something they have been predicted to be thinking of doing for a month now. ESPN's John Clayton reported earlier in the offseason that Washington was eyeing Marcus Mariota in the draft if the Tennessee Titans passed on him. McCloughan simply said that the team is making all evaluations heading into April.
"No one will be handed a job from my standpoint," McCloughan said, via ESPN.com. "You have to earn it. That's what the NFL is about. I don't have any ties with any of the players. I didn't draft them. So I'm coming in -- prove it to me. Prove to me you deserve to be on the field. That's the way it should be in the NFL." "I'm walking in from the outside saying, 'OK, I've been around a world championship team I've helped build another one that made it there. I have a feeling what it's supposed to look like."
McCloughan's comments come after head coach Jay Gruden made it clear that Griffin needed to improve this season. The coach named the quarterback the starter for 2015 without hesitation, but told the media that the pressure is on him to make strides to become better. Griffin is entering the final year of his contract and Washington has made no moves to ink him to an extension. They brought back McCoy meaning all three quarterbacks saw starting time in 2014. If Griffin struggles at the start of the season, Gruden will make a move.
Right now, it appears Washington feels they do not have a long-term quarterback option on the roster should Griffin struggle in 2015. Drafting Mariota would give Gruden that player to develop for the future.