Robert Griffin III appears to be done in Washington, and trade rumors have begun to swirl. While the embattled quarterback isn’t the prize he once was during his outstanding rookie campaign, his raw talent alone is intriguing enough that a trade is conceivable.
Any team interested in the possibility of landing Griffin in a trade with Washington surely understands this isn’t a guy that’s ready to plug and play.
Instead, the best landing spot would be on a team that already has an established veteran on the payroll. This way RG3 could enter a pressure-free environment and start from scratch with a new team without the weight of the world on his shoulders.
It’s worth noting that Griffin’s 2016 salary is currently set at $16.2 million, which is certainly a deterrent to any potential trade. However, a reworked deal could potentially provide a solution to this problem
With this in mind, the following franchises should take a serious look at making a deal for Griffin, who still may develop into a long-term superstar in the NFL under the right circumstances.
Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer, if he can stay healthy, has at least a couple good seasons left in him. Drew Stanton is his backup currently, but his ceiling is limited, which makes him a candidate as a career backup.
The Cardinals would be a great team for Griffin to join, as Bruce Arians loves to push the ball down the field. RG3 has the arm to make those big-time throws, and he’d greatly benefit from being tutored by the brilliant Arians, as well as Palmer, who has seen it all in this league.
Arizona would be lucky to go from Palmer to Griffin, when the veteran’s time is up. The transition from one franchise quarterback to the next would make the Cardinals a championship contender for years to come.
San Diego Chargers
Fresh off a four-year extension, Philip Rivers will finish his career with the Chargers. At the age of 33, he obviously still has plenty of gas left in his tank—not to mention fire in his belly.
However, if Rivers were to get injured, San Diego’s backup plan isn’t exactly solid. Kellen Clemens is the second-string quarterback for the Chargers. He sports an atrocious 54.4 percent completion rate and has thrown 15 touchdowns compared to 20 interceptions in his nine-year career.
Griffin would easily slide into the No. 2 spot in San Diego. This is a team that is building a strong rushing attack with a beefed-up offensive line and young back in Melvin Gordon. The Chargers also have some talented receivers and a strong locker room. It would be a great environment for Griffin to grow.
Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo is starting to get a bit long in the tooth at the age of 35, but barring injuries appears to be good for a few more seasons. His backup, Brandon Weeden, will remain a backup for the remainder of his career. Heck, even he knows the Cowboys would be doomed if he’s forced into the lineup.
Imagine, in two or three years, Griffin throwing passes to Dez Bryant and Gavin Escobar while being protected by the team’s outstanding young offensive line.
Talk about a glorious lineup.
Jerry Jones and his son Stephen have assembled a tremendously talented young roster on offense, and believe it or not, the culture and locker room in Dallas is quite healthy these days. Given some time to decompress from the stress he’s endured in Washington, Griffin would be a tremendous weapon for the Cowboys in future seasons.
Baltimore Ravens
There may not be a more stable franchise in the league than the one in Baltimore. Ozzie Newsome continues to bring in high-character players who mesh well together under the guidance of tenured coach John Harbaugh.
Joe Flacco isn’t going anywhere, but the team doesn’t have any long-term solution if the lanky signal-caller ends up getting injured. Matt Schaub is a capable backup, but at the age of 34 his best years are clearly behind him.
Griffin wouldn’t have any immediate pressure to perform in Baltimore, but once his number was called the Ravens have young, talented receivers in Breshad Perriman, Marlon Brown and tight end Maxx Williams to give him a chance to succeed.
New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees isn’t going to play until he’s 45, regardless of his dream of doing so. At the age of 36, he might last until he’s 40, but that’s a long shot.
New Orleans currently has Luke McCown backing up Brees, with young Garrett Grayson waiting in the wings. However, you have to believe Sean Payton would love to get his hands on Griffin for a couple of years to mold him before unleashing him after Brees retires.
Payton is one of the most brilliant offensive-minded coaches in the league. He would certainly find ways to take advantage of RG3’s outrageous athleticism and arm talent.