Report: Redskins would draft Marcus Mariota at No. 5

Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is not ready to give up on Robert Griffin III, but head coach Jay Gruden may have other plans. What would happen if the Redskins drafted Marcus Mariota next month?

It has already been reported that the New York Jets will trade their No. 6 overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles if Mariota is still available. ESPN’s John Clayton says there is no way it would come to that because the Redskins would take Mariota first.

“He’s not going to fall to the Jets at six right now, the Redskins will take him at five,” Clayton told ESPN’s Freddie Coleman Show Tuesday, per Jamie Oakes of 247Sports. “At least Dan Snyder might not think there’s quarterback issues, Jay Gruden and everyone else in the front office thinks there’s quarterback issues.

“And if Marcus Mariota falls to five, it’s not a position where they’re desperate enough to trade up to get him, but if he falls to five, I’m telling you this right now, they’ll take him.”

Both RG3 and Kirk Cousins are entering the final years of their contracts, with the latter openly admitting that he wants a legitimate chance to compete for Washington’s starting quarterback job this offseason. If Mariota was added to the mix, someone would have to go.

Spending another first-round pick on a quarterback would probably be dumb of the Redskins, but we know how Gruden feels about RG3. The move wouldn’t really be shocking if it happened.