The Washington Redskins have a major decision to make with the contract option for Robert Griffin III and the team could decide on the future for RG3 after the draft if they do not go after Marcus Mariota and this comes as names like Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley and Kevin White are potential targets over making a trade up to get Mariota.
The Redskins are coming into the season after finishing in the bottom of the NFC East again and now they have GM Scot McCloughan looking to turn things around. Jay Gruden comes back for year two and with Griffin coming into year four of his rookie deal, the Redskins have to decide if they want to pick up his fifth year option.
Griffin reportedly said that he "wouldn't be bummed" if the team picks up the option and right now it looks likely that they will. The team has until May 3 to pick up the option, which would be for a non-guaranteed, $16 million, which means they can sit tight for the draft and see what develops before making a final decision. The team reportedly is interested in Marcus Mariota, but Charles Robinson at Yahoo Sports says that the interest is about drumming up other interest in the number five pick for trades.
Mariota is likely going at number two to the titans or a team that trades up, but if he slips past that and into the fifth pick for the Redskins, the team could shop the pick. There is of course the chance the team takes Mariota and puts Griffin's future up in the air, but McCloughan has been pragmatic and strong in the draft in the past and he likely will try and be that way in 2015.
Griffin has been up and down while dealing with injuries since winning rookie of the year and the Redskins now have to decide if he is the future of the franchise. Gruden has named him the starter already, but reports have Gruden not completely sold on Griffin as a quarterback. Griffin has dealt with knee issues and he has not been as explosive as he was back in 2012 when he rushed for 826 yards and seven touchdowns.
In the past two seasons he has combined for fewer yards than that and just one TD and he has not been great as a passer either. Last season Griffin played in just nine games and in the past two years he has 20 touchdowns and 18 interceptions compared to 20 TDs and five picks his rookie season. The draft gives the Redskins the chance to add a solid player if they stay at the top five and names like Leonard Williams, Dante Fowler, Vic Beasley and Kevin White are potential options.
White could be a nice fit alongside DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in the offense for the Redskins, as he is considered to be one of the top two receivers in the draft with Amari Cooper. Many mock drafts have the Redskins taking a defensive player and names like Williams, Fowler and Beasley could be in the mix with Brian Orakpo leaving in free agency.