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Redskins: What could have happened if the team had drafted Russell Wilson

By Jacob Camenker

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 08: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 08: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 7: Quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Redskins looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 7, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 7: Quarterback Robert Griffin III #10 of the Washington Redskins looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 7, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

The team with RG3 and Russell Wilson

Let’s just preface this by saying that the two obviously wouldn’t have met in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs had they been on the same team. That game really served as a telling moment for each player’s career, as their respective journeys went in opposite directions after that contest. But I digress.

If Wilson had in fact ended up in Washington, there’s no doubt that he would have been the backup to Griffin to start his career. Even if Wilson had a terrific preseason like he did with the Seahawks, Wilson would have been relegated to backup duties. The fact of the matter is that RG3 was the No. 2 overall pick. There was no way a third round rookie would start over him.

Still, as Griffin regressed in his later years with the franchise, that would have been the time that Wilson took over. In all likelihood, Wilson would only have improved with extra seasoning on the bench of an NFL squad, so he probably would have still been the same player that he currently is. There’s a chance that he wouldn’t have been quite as good due to lack of reps, but given how intelligent Wilson has always been, it’s more likely that he would have stepped in as a quality starter right away. For those questioning whether or not Wilson would be able to win a Super Bowl in Washington, it seems unlikely due to the state of the defense, though he could have possibly led them on a deeper playoff run than RG3 and Cousins have.

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Of course, there’s always the possibility that the Redskins could have traded Wilson if he continued to perform well in the preseason. In the past, backup quarterbacks have been valued on the trade market, and it’s possible that Wilson could have fetched a solid return. If he had a couple of great preseasons, they could have moved him for a first round pick.

There’s also a possibility that the Redskins could treat him like the Redskins have treated Jimmy Garappolo. They could have kept him around to fill in for the injury prone RG3, and eventually he would have emerged as the starter, like Cousins did. Needless to say, the Redskins would have had options with Wilson.

That said, the Redskins also were given similar options by the quarterback they did take. Cousins has done well for the team, but he wouldn’t have been with them if Wilson was in Washington. So the question is, where would he have ended up?

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