Robert Griffin III’s time in Washington, from Rookie of the Year to injury-filled sophomore slump and release

by Glenn Maxwell

Robert Griffin III's time in Washington, from Rookie of the Year to injury-filled sophomore slump and release

For just one glorious rookie season, Robert Griffin III was worth everything. The draft picks that Washington had traded to pick its franchise quarterback appeared as if chump change when compared to accurate arm, magical legs and brilliant smile that Griffin introduced to D.C.

Then came the knee injuries, and also the sophomore slump, and much more injuries, and also the benchings. Griffin went from Rookie of the season and Pro Bowler to 3rd on the depth chart which incorporated Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins. He did not even allow it to be the whole of his rookie contract prior to being released and delivered to drift like a journeyman.

This can be a think back at everything – the first highs and also the concluding lows to RG3’s amount of time in Washington, the kind of drastic career shift that leaves everybody wondering some variation of the “Let’s say?” question. We’ll don’t know the solution to any one of individuals hypotheticals, though. All we all know is exactly what happened.

2012 National football league Draft

Washington wanted Griffin, however the St. Louis Rams held no. 2 pick within the 2012 National football league Draft. It’d have a trade to make sure Griffin performed within the nation’s capital.

The Rams guaranteed a high payment: 2012’s No. 6 overall pick an additional-rounder, together with first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. That permitted Washington to maneuver up four picks and take RG3.

There wasn’t any question who’d set off the board using the first pick that year: Stanford’s Andrew Luck was considered a generational quarterback prospect. But Griffin, from Baylor, seemed to be considered a high prospect along with a good pick at No. 2 overall. Bleacher Report gave Washington a b grade because of its selection and authored this:

What elevated a couple of eyebrows later for the reason that 2012 draft was who Washington selected within the 4th round. Kirk Cousins, from Michigan Condition, became a member of Griffin in Washington’s 2012 rookie class, moving that wouldn’t show it is true lengthy-term implications until later.

MORE: Russell Wilson & the QBs drafted before Seahawks star this year

Rookie of the season

Griffin would be a star immediately. In the National football league debut from the Saints, Griffin completed 19-of-26 passes for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns while hurrying 10 occasions for 42 yards inside a 40-32 win. That outing earned him NFC Offense each week honors.

The great occasions stored on coming: 82 hurrying yards with two scores on the floor in Week 2, 138 hurrying yards with two more scores in Week 6, 304 passing yards with four touchdowns to conquer the Cowboys on Thanksgiving four days after tossing four TDs from the Eagles. Luck might have been the NFL’s future face, but RG3 was the league’s exciting new present.

Contributing to the rookie success of Griffin was the capability to help keep his turnovers under control, tossing just five interceptions and losing two fumbles the whole season. He carried out with 3,200 passing yards and 20 touchdowns with the air while adding 815 hurrying yards and 7 TDs on the floor. At that time, Griffin grew to become the NFL’s rookie record-holder for season quarterback rating and touchdown-to-interception ratio (Dak Prescott broke both).

All in all, Griffin earned 2012 National football league Offensive Rookie of the season honors twelve months after Cam Newton tried exactly the same. It appeared as if Washington’s trade up was worthwhile.

Kirk Cousins era

Griffin was again the starter within the 2014 opener, but he dislocated his left ankle in Week 2. That stored him out until per week 9 return which was immediately interspersed with three straight losses. That brought to some benching in support of Colt McCoy.

McCoy went lower having a season-ending injuries that permitted Griffin to begin again in Days 16 and 17, and that he had decent days with the air while neglecting to top 20 hurrying yards either in game.

The 2015 preseason was basically the finish in Washington for Griffin. He endured a concussion and Cousins was eventually named the starter. At some point in September, it had been reported that Griffin was practicing like a safety around the scout team, and that he continued to be third around the depth chart the whole season, not playing just one snap.

On March 7, 2016, under 4 years after Washington traded as much as draft Griffin, he was launched.

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