Robert Griffin III was out of football in 2017. Now, he’s returned to play for the Baltimore Ravens.
When the Washington Redskins selected Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, they thought that they had answered their long-term question at quarterback. After all, they had traded up to get the Baylor product and he had been a very successful college quarterback. What wasn’t to like about him as he came into the NFL?
Right away, Griffin started off his career on the right foot, leading the Redskins to an NFC East title as a rookie and putting up excellent numbers. Thanks to his unique blend of athletic ability and his strong arm, he was poised to become the next great player at quarterback. However, disaster struck when he hurt his knee against the Seattle Seahawks in that postseason game. After that, he was never the same.
Over the course of the next three years in Washington, Griffin regressed in terms of accuracy and playmaking ability. He just didn’t have the same ability that he did before the injury. Making matters worse, he had trouble staying healthy, and he eventually ceded his starting job to Kirk Cousins. After that, he went to Cleveland where he performed poorly, posting a 1-4 record, and stayed out of the league in 2017.
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But now, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported, he’s back. The Baltimore Ravens agreed to sign Griffin to a one-year deal in order to make him their backup quarterback. On the surface, this move looks like a good one.
As it stands, the Ravens don’t have a lot of talent at quarterback. Joe Flacco is average and overpaid and the only other option on the roster is Josh Woodrum. Griffin can come in as a high upside backup who could be a starter again if he’s healthy. He’ll never be as successful as he was during his rookie year, but at the very least, he is a quality backup option. For that reason, this move makes sense for the Ravens.
For the Redskins, this means very little. Seeing RG3 in the league will just serve as a small reminder that the team once selected him early. There was no fault in making this decision, and it’s not entirely the team’s fault that he didn’t pan out. But, when Griffin left the team, there was no spot for him on the roster. And that continues to be the case today.
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It would be nice to see Griffin bounce back and carve out a career as a backup. It will be interesting to see what he’s able to accomplish while he’s with the Ravens.