The Washington Redskins are expected to release Robert Griffin III this offseason, as the team is prepared to move forward with Kirk Cousins as the starter into 2016. Cousins is hitting free agency and general manager Scot McCloughan said signing the quarterback to a new deal is a priority for the team.
The Redskins are coming off of an NFC East division title and heading into 2016, there is no doubt that Cousins will be the starter after the strong season he just had. Head coach Jay Gruden pushed Cousins over Griffin to start the season and now it appears that Griffin's run in DC is about to end. According to Ian Rapoport at NFL.com, the Redskins are going to cut Griffin this offseason and will not pay him the $16 million option that he has coming for the 2016 season. The team also may consider releasing DeSean Jackson after his injury-plagued season in 2015.
There has been a ton of speculation about what the Redskins will do regarding Griffin and McCloughan spoke about the situation to the Washington Post last week. McCloughan said that the team is not rushing into any decisions and that they have until March 9 to make a move with Griffin. That is the date that Griffin's option will kick in as the new league year begins. The Redskins could try and trade Griffin, but at this point teams likely will not give up much for a player that probably will get released anyway.
Griffin did not play for the Redskins this season and was mostly inactive behind Cousins and Colt McCoy during the regular season. Griffin is still young and has the chance to develop into an NFL starter again, but that likely will not be happening in Washington. McCloughan said to the Washington Post that he wants to sign a "long term deal" with Cousins and added that he "wants him to be a part of the Redskins."
The team also has some other personnel concerns, including Alfred Morris hitting the free agent market. Morris has been a solid running back for the team over the past four years, but he is coming off of his worst season and that could give the Redskins the chance to sign him back at below market value. Morris said to ESPN earlier in the offseason that it's his "goal" to sign back with Washington. CSN Washington's Rich Tandler writes that he thinks it's unlikely that Morris will sign back this offseason after Matt Jones had a strong season for the team.
Earlier in the season NFL.com reported that if Griffin were released, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans could be interested in signing him. The Browns also could be in that mix with Hue Jackson taking over as head coach, but that team is more likely going to add a quarterback through the draft. The Cowboys have been mentioned as a landing spot in many media reports, but ESPN reporter Todd Archer does not believe the team will end up adding Griffin or Johnny Manziel this offseason.
