Robert Griffin III Visits Browns

Robert Griffin III has made his second visit since becoming a free agent, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the quarterback met with the Browns today. Garafolo adds that RGIII is flying out of Cleveland without a deal, but it sounds like the visit went well.

The Browns are one of a handful of teams actively seeking out a quarterback upgrade this offseason, with Johnny Manziel no longer in the mix in Cleveland and Josh McCown currently penciled in atop the depth chart. The Browns are viewed as likely to use their first-round draft pick (No. 2 overall) to add a QB like Carson Wentz or Jared Goff to their roster, but acquiring a player with some upside like Griffin wouldn’t be a bad move.

Previously, Griffin visited another team with a hole at quarterback, traveling to New York to meet with the Jets. That visit was subsequently characterized by various reports – and by general manager Mike Maccagnan himself – as more of a meet-and-greet, since the Jets remain focused on re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. RGIII appears to be no more than a potential contingency plan for Maccagnan and Co. at this point.

Griffin, the 2012 offensive rookie of the year, hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in the playoffs that season. Although the former Pro Bowl quarterback completed a career-best 68.1% of his passes in 2014, he threw just four touchdown passes compared to six interceptions and fell out of favor with Jay Gruden. Subsequently, RGIII didn’t take a snap in 2015 as Kirk Cousins captured Washington’s starting job and ultimately received the franchise tag.

Griffin threw for 3,200 yards as a rookie, rushing for another 815, and totaled 27 touchdowns, including 20 through the air. In 2013, however, Griffin’s completion percentage dropped five points and Washington went 3-10 in games that the former Heisman Trophy winner started.

Injuries knocked Griffin out of the starting lineup in 2014 and ’15, the latter coming in the preseason, when Washington opted to shelve Griffin and begin its exit strategy from its one-time franchise quarterback. The team released him earlier this month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.