If the Denver Broncos are dead set on a third quarterback to start the season, they could look to trade for Baltimore Ravens QB Robert Griffin III.
The Denver Broncos may look to a veteran quarterback to be an ’emergency’ option in case something happens to Case Keenum. Why not Robert Griffin III?
Before everyone freaks out because of Griffin’s injury history or poor play in Cleveland, consider what he’s done lately.
Griffin played in four of the Ravens’ five preseason games and did quite well.
He finished the preseason with 27 completions on 41 attempts (65.9 percent) with a pair of touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 52 yards.
Griffin took seven sacks in four preseason games, which may have been a result of the Ravens’ offensive line but is an unfortunate number regardless of who was at fault.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Griffin could be available in a trade, or the Ravens might just release him outright.
As Pelissero notes in his segment (linked above), the Ravens have not kept three quarterbacks on their roster since 2009, Joe Flacco’s second year in the NFL.
It would not be out of the question for them to keep RG3 on the roster this year due to the fact that their backup would then be Lamar Jackson, and then all of a sudden the Ravens are in the situation the Broncos would seemingly be trying to avoid.
Griffin would not be coming to Denver to take Chad Kelly’s spot, but Paxton Lynch’s.
Let’s just call it what it is — if the Broncos lose Case Keenum for any significant period of time, they are going to have to just simply ‘get by’ at best.
There is no solution out there similar to what we saw in Philadelphia last year, but having strong backup play at the quarterback position is essential.
Keenum has still never played a full NFL regular season, though durability was not an issue last year. Kelly essentially redshirted in 2017 due to injuries. Heck, Griffin himself had a promising career derailed because of a major knee injury.
If the Broncos make some other moves on their roster to acquire future draft picks and open up a spot or two, trading a late-round pick or something for Griffin is not a terrible idea. Or they could wait and see if the Ravens just release him, but there could be multiple suitors for his services.
After the way he played in the preseason, he’s going to get a roster spot somewhere. That may very well be in Denver when all is said and done.