NFL Trade Rumors: Raiders Target Griffin For Quarterback Needs

KEY POINTS

Raiders eye Griffin to serve as backup quarterback
Griffin could get new chance to prove worth
Ravens could get more mileage out of Jackson

The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for the NFL season and want to make sure that Derek Carr gets the proper backup quarterback. Several names have been suggested such as Marcus Mariota and Tom Brady. But from the looks of it, landing either player is not feasible.

An alternative for Jon Gruden is to initiate a trade. The 2020 NFL Draft is coming up and the Raiders could trade up to get a chance at either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert. But as NBC Sports pointed out, Las Vegas will need lots of luck to pull that one off.

If no young guy is available to fill in the Raiders backup QB needs, diverting their attention on veteran players who could still be of use may be wise. One player that has cropped up is Robert Griffin III. According to the NFL Network, the Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens are discussing a potential deal. Las Vegas would get Griffin while the Ravens would receive offensive lineman Gabe Jackson.

With the Ravens, RGIII has been serving more as a backup to Lamar Jackson. Once a promising player, Griffin saw his level of play drop due to a knee injury. He showed promise with the Washington Redskins in 2012 but his career took a hefty tumble after he underwent surgery to repair his LCL and ACL right in his rookie year. He has struggled since.

Griffin had a great chance when he was named starting quarterback by the Cleveland Browns in 2016. Again, injuries prevented him from taking off. A shoulder injury slowed him down and was eventually released. He found a new home in Baltimore, backing up Jackson and Joe Flacco. But even as a reliever injuries continued to follow him. It has been a struggle and the injury history NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year back in 2012 is likely to be factored in the potential trade.

Jackson himself has not exactly been durable. Though he can play both guard positions, the 28-year-old saw limited action last season for the Raiders. Jackson played just 11 games and was bothered by a knee injury.

Both Griffin and Jackson have non-guaranteed contracts for 2020 and the swap could make sense. It may be a minor transaction but something that could make a difference this 2020 NFL season.