The Washington Redskins picked up the option for RG3 before the NFL draft and the team did not trade their first round pick, instead sticking and taking Brandon Scherff from Iowa for the offensive line and the team also took Jamison Crowder and Matt Jones for Robert Griffin III on offense and they added a project quarterback for Jay Gruden in Connor Halliday.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Redskins took a chance on Halliday after the draft, signing him as an undrafted free agent. Halliday missed part of his final season with Washington State with a broken ankle and now he could be part of the future for Jay Gruden. Halliday is considered a "system quarterback", but that could be exactly what Gruden is looking for in the long term. The Cougars were one of the top passing teams in the nation and G.M. Scot McCloughan opted to sign Halliday after seeing him in his pro day last month.
The Redskins had the number five pick in the draft and they went after Scherff on the offensive line. Scherff was the 2014 Outland Trophy winner and he comes in and could start right away. The team added Preston Smith in the second round and then added Matt Jones at running back in the third. Jones could be a solid backup option for Alfred Morris, who has been rushed a ton the last couple seasons. Jamison Crowder was taken in the fourth round and he could be an underrated option out of Duke at receiver.
The Redskins reportedly targeted names like Kevin White, Amari Cooper, Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler and Randy Gregory and now Crowder could be an option to step up for the team. The Redskins finished in the bottom of the NFC East last season and they have a new decision maker at the top with McCloughan taking over. Gruden did not get the offense going like he wanted last year and with Robert Griffin III already named the starter, McCloughan looked at giving him new weapons. Crowder and Jones could be strong additions.
Crowder comes in after running a strong 40-yard dash and he is good size, which is ideal for the type of offense Gruden runs. The Redskins already have solid depth at receiver with Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts, but Crowder now is a cheap long term investment. The Redskins have Jackson counting for over $9 million and Garcon over $10 million and in this age of the NFL, it means that one of those players will likely be gone in the next couple years. Adding a young player like Crowder could be a solid move if the team wants to be successful Griffin this season.
The Redskins have decided to keep Griffin after picking up his option ahead of the deadline. The team had until early May to pick up the fifth year option on Griffin and after Andrew Luck had his picked up by the Colts this week, the Redskins also picked it up. The team waited until before the draft and the deal is a a non-guaranteed, $16 million option.
