Robert Griffin III Is Destined To Fail With Talentless Cleveland Browns

Former Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, who exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2012 but has been on a downward spiral since, signed a two-year deal with the lowly Cleveland Browns on Thursday.

 

While Griffin III undoubtedly deserves another chance to start in the NFL and a team like the Browns that isn’t expected to win many games is likely the best fit for him in theory, the four-year veteran is destined for failure in his new home.

New Browns head coach Hue Jackson possesses an incredibly bright football mind, but Cleveland’s issues emanate from a seemingly clueless ownership group that has left the roster barren of talent, particularly on offense.

According to Pro Football Focus, Cleveland’s offensive line was the fifth-best unit overall in 2015, and third-best at pass blocking. However, Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is gone, and offensive tackle Joe Thomas‘ future with the franchise remains under a cloud of uncertainty.

The Browns have perhaps the least amount of talent at the skill positions of any team in the NFL. Their receiving corps is an absolute joke, and marijuana enthusiast Josh Gordon, who has been suspended for the last 27 of a possible 32 games, is still awaiting a decision from commissioner Roger Goodell about reinstatement and can’t be relied on to play much in 2016.

Thus, the Browns don’t have anyone who even comes close to resembling a No. 1 wide receiver and will be forced to rely on their lone bright spot, tight end Gary Barnidge, for most of the production in the passing attack.

Cleveland’s rushing attack was abysmal in 2015. The Browns tallied just five rushing touchdowns on the season (San Diego was the only team with fewer) and were a substandard 22nd in rushing yards. Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson aren’t terrible backs, but they weren’t able to get much of anything going playing on a floundering offensive unit.

Sure, the Browns could end up making a few solid additions in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, has anything the new regime in place in Cleveland has done thus far this offseason indicated that they will flourish at doing so?

The Browns are at minimum two seasons away from playing meaningful football. Going on the idea that Griffin III indeed starts their next 32 games (which is far from a certainty considering they might end up drafting a quarterback like Carson Wentz at No. 2 overall), he’s going to have an overwhelmingly difficult time building his value back up for when he’s a free agent again after the 2017 season.