The Washington Redskins picked up the fifth year contract option on Robert Griffin III and he comes in as the starter this year for Jay Gruden and after the draft he has some new names on offense, including Brandon Scherff, Matt Jones, Jamison Crowder and Evan Spencer and the team could look at a Kirk Cousins trade down the line if Connor Halliday steps up after getting signed.
The Redskins picked up the option for Griffin after heavy speculation and now he is in on a $16 million deal for next season. The team likely will start Griffin and Gruden has said that he is coming into the season as the starter over Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. The team could consider a deal with Cousins, as the Browns have previously shown interest, but right now it looks like he will be back for another season with the Redskins.
The team has added some weapons for RG3 with Jones and Crowder as well as Spencer, who was taken in the sixth round. Jones comes out of Florida and he is expected to give Alfred Morris some support with Ropy Helu in Oakland now. Morris is the starter and lead back, but Jones can really help change things up when he comes in. Crowder was a four year layer at Duke and has a lot of experience, while Spencer has a high upside as a sixth round pick.
Scot McCloughan did a strong job in his first draft for the Redskins and most experts have been giving him high grades for getting things going in Washington. The team added some beef on the offensive line with Scherff in the first round and Arie Kouandjio in the fourth and the team also took Austin Reiter in the seventh. Preston Smith adds to the d-line, while Crowder, Spencer and Jones are strong offensive options.
The team also has signed Connor Halliday, as Pro Football Talk reports that the Redskins brought the quarterback in as an undrafted free agent. Halliday went to Washington State and he was out for part of last season while dealing with an injury. The Cougars were one of the top passing teams in the nation the past few seasons.
Halliday would likely not be the backup even if he makes the team, but there is a chance he could emerge as a solid third string option. If that happens, the Redskins may look at trading Cousins or Colt McCoy, as they could net them a draft pick and still leave them with a competent backup. Based on the way things went last season and with RG3's injury issues, Gruden likely wants a solid backup and both Cousins and McCoy showed they can handle things last season.
McCoy was signed back and he proved last year that he can lead the team and that could give the Redskins the chance to move Cousins. Over the past couple seasons Cousins has gained interest from teams, including the Cleveland Browns, and if the Redskins get a deal they like, Gruden could pull the trigger. There have been times when some have pushed for Cousins over Griffin, but he struggled at times last year and that chorus has been silenced.