Any speculation as to whether or not Washington will draft Marcus Mariota in the first round Thursday night may of possibly been quelled…. Maybe.
According to Washington general manager Scot McCloughan (via ProFootballTalk.com) the team decided to pickup quarterback Robert Griffin III’s 2016 contract option meaning the former first round pick in 2012 will make just over $16M next season.
However, Washington can release RGIII prior to 2016 and owe him nothing only if he doesn’t suffer any significant injury.
But of course, since we’re talking about Dan Snyder and a team that thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to disparage an entire race of people, McCloughan says this doesn’t change Washington’s draft strategy to take the ‘best player available’ Thursday. I guess I’m still not fully believing they’ll actually take Mariota in the first round. Then again I wouldn’t totally be surprised if Snyder’s bunch does.