Will the Kansas City Chiefs sign free agent QB, Robert Griffin III to backup Alex Smith?
It’s official; RG3 is a free agent.
The Washington Redskins officially cut ties with Griffin today as they look to Kirk Cousins to be the team’s QB moving forward.
But where will Griffin land?
Some folks think Kansas City.
I know @JeffDarlington has mentioned it, I'd echo his sentiment -- Chiefs look to me like the best fit for Robert Griffin III.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 7, 2016
We did a ton of studies on RG3 when he was coming out in Philly. Andy LOVED him. Be shocked if KC is not in the mix
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) March 7, 2016
Our friend over at SI, Peter King, has also said that he thinks Griffin would be a fit in Kansas City.
It all makes sense. Griffin needs a fresh start and Andy Reid likes giving QBs fresh starts. See Vick, Michael. Andy also likes mobile QBs. Griffin checks another box there.
So should the Chiefs pursue RG3?
Why the Chiefs should do it:
1. Andy likes him
If Andy Reid really liked RG3 coming out of college then it stands to reason Reid thought Griffin would be a good fit for his offensive system. Unfortunately, drafting Griffin was basically impossible for Reid to do at the time. Why not make a play for the QB now when his value is low?
2. The Chiefs need an experienced backup
KC is likely to move on from Chase Daniel this offseason. The remaining QBs on the roster have zero regular season experience. Griffin has played a season in the NFL and played at a high level. He’d be a solid insurance policy should something happen to Alex Smith.
3. Reid could resurrect RG3’s career when Smith hangs up his cleats
Alex Smith is 31 years old and will be 32 when next season begins. Plenty of QBs have played at a high level well into their 30s so it stands to reason that Smith could be KC’s QB for the next three to five years. Still, should Smith’s play start to slip or should he become injured, the Chiefs would have a ready replacement in Griffin.
4. Griffin can learn under Smith
RG3 is only 26 years old. While his career has gotten off to a rocky start, it isn’t unsalvageable. He could benefit greatly by spending a couple of years learning Reid’s system under Alex Smith. Smith is one of the smartest QBs in the NFL and is also very smart about running the football without taking unnecessary risks, the latter of which was something that Griffin struggled with in Washington.
Andy Reid has a well documented history of getting the absolute best out of his QBs. Griffin coming to Kansas City would not only be good for the Chiefs, it could also be a move that saves the QB’s career.
5. I said the Chiefs should have drafted RG3
Those of you who have read this site for a number of years might remember my campaign to get the Chiefs to draft Griffin.
At the time, I believed in Griffin’s ability and definitely did not believe in the Chiefs’ QB depth. NFL teams only go as far as their QBs and so I argued that if the Chiefs believed in Griffin, they should bet the farm to move up to get him. In hindsight, that probably wasn’t a smart move.
Thankfully, the Chiefs didn’t listen to me and drafted Dontari Poe, instead. Despite the fact that Griffin’s career didn’t start well, I still think it can end well. If there is any QB that is the living embodiment of that sentiment, it is Alex Smith.
Griffin would have failed in KC with the team and regime the organization had in 2012, when he was drafted. Now, however, the Chiefs have the infrastructure in place to support Griffin and set him up for success.
Also, I’d like to be proven right.
Why it won’t work:
1. RG3 will be a distraction
There is no getting around it. Despite the fact that his career is currently in the dumps, there is no denying that RG3 has star power and that his name carries more weight than, say, Chase Daniel. That means that if the Chiefs sign Griffin, they could find themselves with unwanted distractions and potentially, a QB controversy.
It is no secret that Alex Smith’s play is sometimes unspectacular to watch. Should he have a couple of bad games, you can bet the media and fans will start calling for Reid to give RG3 a shot.
This, for me, is the biggest and only reason to avoid signing Griffin.
Why it won’t happen:
1. Griffin will be coveted
We all know the NFL is a QB-driven league and now that he is on the market, Griffin is likely to be in high demand. Despite his diminished reputation on the field, Griffin still has a very impressive skill-set. There are plenty of QB-needy teams that might like to take a chance on Griffin as its starter. Cleveland and Houston jump to mind. Perhaps even the Rams, who could be looking to add a little sizzle to their move to L.A.. If there are teams out there willing to pay low-end starting QB money to sign Griffin, the Chiefs will be out of the running. KC doesn’t have much cap space and the space it does have needs to be reserved for players that will actually see the field for the Chiefs in 2016.
Andy Reid may want to sign Griffin and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs meet with him but chances are Griffin and his agent will take a starting gig and more money over signing a smaller deal with the Chiefs.
What do you think, Addicts? Should the Chiefs make a strong play for RG3?