Robert Griffin III: Should the Ravens keep three quarterbacks in 2018?

The initial signing of Robert Griffin III seemed odd at first, but after drafting Lamar Jackson, it suddenly made all the sense in the world.

After sitting out the entirety of the 2017 season, all hope appeared bleak for the former Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III. Following a failed stint with the Browns in 2016, a season that would see Cleveland win just one game all season, Griffin was out on his butt. Since tearing his ACL after his historical rookie season in 2012, Griffin seemed like a shell of his former self.

The name “Robert Griffin III” still had heavy value, but in more bad ways than good. Rumors about Griffin being a bad teammate circled around him wherever he went. A Prima Donna, a self-righteous player, arrogant, and other words were used to describe the man once known as RGIII.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, the Ravens opted to sign Mr. Griffin to a one-year deal.

The move seemed… odd. Sure, Ryan Mallett was no longer with the team, but why would the Ravens chooser to sign Robert Griffin III over any other quarterback? After all, he and Joe Flacco are so vastly different on a variety of different levels. It just didn’t seem like a clean fit. Then the 2018 NFL Draft rolled along and it became crystal clear why the Ravens signed Robert Griffin III:

A perfect mentor for Lamar Jackson:

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Insert Lousiville quarterback and 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. The man who many compared to as a young Michael Vick suddenly found himself in Charm City. Who better to mentor him than someone else who was also considered a Vick clone?

It seems perfect, right? But is it what Baltimore is know to do? Not in most recent history.

The Ravens have tended to keep no more than two quarterbacks on the active roster at a time, with very few exceptions. While this is for a variety of different reasons, it simply isn’t the norm to see this in Baltimore.

But is 2018 going to be different? Will three quarterbacks all make the roster together? Better yet, should the Ravens keep three quarterbacks on the roster? With so much competition at so many positions, it seems like a touch call to make one-way or the other…

Verdict:

This year’s training camp will be extremely interesting to keep an eye on. The Ravens roster is going to be competitive throughout, and making the team itself will be a challenge. Now you’re asking if the Ravens would keep more than one quarterback when, more than likely, we won’t see the other one see the field hardly at all?

Fat chance.

Is it the right thing to do? Probably. In fact, it’s such a smart decision that it might be the wrong decision. As confusing as that may sound, it sort of makes sense.

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The Ravens need to be competitive now. People’s jobs are on the line. Robert Griffin III isn’t the superstar that he once was and is wasting a roster spot by staying on the Ravens. Yes, having Lamar Jackson learn from Griffin’s shortcomings is a nice thought, but Jackson isn’t starting in 2018, and maybe not even 2019 (depending entirely on how Joe Flacco plays).

Controversial or not, I just don’t see a way RGIII makes the final roster cut. He would have to play out of his mind in the preseason to even stand a chance. Griffin may have an extra game to do so, but this fight might’ve ended before it even began.

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