The Washington Redskins and Robert Griffin III are likely heading towards a split this offseason. Reports have the team working to sign Kirk Cousins to a contract extension and that means the release of RG3 is likely this winter.
Griffin and his future with the team has been up in the air all season after the team picked up his $16 million, fifth year option. The Redskins started Cousins all year and Griffin was inactive for most of the season, leading many to speculate that the quarterback could be released before the new league year begins in March.
According to Ian Rapoport at NFL.com, the Redskins are prepared to cut Griffin this offseason, as the team will not want to pay him his $16 million option, which is guaranteed for next season. Griffin came into the offseason last year as the starter for the Redskins, but head coach Jay Gruden opted to go with Cousins as the number one quarterback when the 2015 regular season started. Griffin was inactive behind Colt McCoy as the third string QB for the majority of the season and now it looks like his time in Washington is done.
General manager Scot McCloughan spoke to the Washington Post about the quarterback situation, saying that the team is interested in signing Cousins long term. McCloughan also spoke about Griffin and said that he is a "very good football player" and that the team has until March 9 to evaluate things and make a decision. It doesn't behoove McCloughan to divulge his plans for Griffin, but at this point it's very likely that he ends up getting released.
Earlier in the season NFL.com reported that if Griffin were to become available, teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans would be interested in signing him. The Cowboys are looking for a quarterback to develop behind Tony Romo and Jerry Jones could look at adding Griffin as the backup for next season. The Texans used four starters last season and head coach Bill O'Brien is hoping to add some competition for Brian Hoyer and Tom Savage.
The report about the Eagles came when Chip Kelly was still the coach, but there still is a chance Doug Pederson will look at Griffin as an option. Sam Bradford may leave in free agency and Pederson likes mobile quarterbacks for his offense, which is what he had in Kansas City with Alex Smith. The Browns potentially could be a landing spot for Griffin, as the team is reportedly planning to release Johnny Manziel after his latest incident involving a domestic issue with his girlfriend.
