Several teams have reportedly shown interest in signing Robert Griffin III, but the franchise that could make the most sense for the QB is the San Francisco 49ers.
With it looking increasingly likely that Colin Kaepernick will be traded at some point in the near future, the 49ers could soon be left with Blaine Gabbert as the only quarterback with NFL experience on their roster. Like Kaepernick, Griffin is a mobile quarterback who could, in theory, be a fit for Chip Kelly’s system. He would also cost significantly less than the nearly $16 million salary cap hit Kaepernick carries for the 2016 season.
Griffin is said to be interested in playing for the St. Louis Rams, but Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports that the Rams “have not made a serious overture” toward RG3. Robinson feels that the stage is being set for Griffin to end up in San Francisco.
From Robinson:
Make no mistake, Kelly is a huge factor in where the pursuit goes. The reality is that Griffin suits Kelly’s offensive scheme better than any quarterback he has had in the NFL. And that alone makes Griffin a viable and attractive option. Especially considering that Griffin is likely to seek only a short-term “show-me” deal, which is expected to be relatively cheap and incentive-laden.
Lest anyone forget, Kelly is very familiar with Griffin. He recruited him at Oregon with the intent of building an offense around him. And he continued to watch his growth and struggles from within the NFC East. That knowledge is key because it removes part of the free-agent equation of having to do the all-important work on scheme fit. Kelly knows Griffin can fit and run his offense.
The Philadelphia Eagles had a ton of problems last season, but Sam Bradford’s inability to perform in Kelly’s system was near the top of the list. Bradford, of course, is a pocket passer. That wasn’t Kelly’s thing at Oregon, so why would it be now?
Griffin has garnered interest from a number of NFL teams, but there aren’t many that could give him a legitimate shot at starting. The Houston Texans were one of those teams, and they have already signed Brock Osweiler. Perhaps the 49ers will provide that opportunity.
