The Cleveland Browns took a big name off the quarterback market when they signed former second-overall pick, Robert Griffin III, on Thursday afternoon. Griffin raced out to a stellar start in Washington, compiling 258 completions for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions through the air, as well as 815 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground during a magical rookie season that had fans of the NFL's D.C.-based franchise finally thinking they'd found "the guy."
Only RGIII, now a shell of his former self, isn't the big name no longer on the market - it's the Browns. And with Cleveland turning their attention to the 2016 NFL Draft, Griffin en tow, the league's attention will in turn shift back to John Elway and the Denver Broncos and their pursuit of Colin Kaepernick.
With the Browns landing RGIII, the Broncos stand alone as the only franchise still maneuvering toward a trade to acquire the embattled San Francisco 49ers signal-caller.
Kaep, much like Griffin, struggled mightily after early-career successes. With Jim Harbaugh running the show, Kaepernick was an unstoppable athletic force for the Niners. But with Harbaugh pushed out the door and Jim Tomsula and Geep Chryst then asking Kaep to do more traditional quarterback work, the uber-talented Kaepernick's play suffered.
The Broncos, of course, entered the offseason as NFL champs with a pair of talented quarterbacks on their roster, future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and longtime heir apparent Brock Osweiler. But while Elway and Co. were giving the 40-year-old Manning time to consider his future, Osweiler was apparently being courted by other NFL franchises. Ultimately, Osweiler, still feeling the sting of a late-season benching by Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, jumped ship and joined the Houston Texans on a mammoth deal, while Manning called it a career.
It left Elway and the Broncos in dire quarterback straits.
And while the recent trade to acquire Mark Sanchez from the Philadelphia Eagles gives Denver a guy with starting ability and a decent track record, it's far from a final answer at the game's most important position for the Broncos.
Kaepernick, were Elway to pull off a deal, wouldn't come right in as the starter for the Broncos. He'd have to prove that he's taken strides in his ability to digest an NFL playbook and parse an NFL defense. But he'd immediately be the best and most talented quarterback on the Denver roster.
He also seems to be a quality fit for Kubiak's offense, which is play-action and roll out heavy, meaning the Broncos would be able to put all of Kaep's athleticism to good use.
Niners head coach Chip Kelly, speaking at the NFL's owner's meetings this week, said that he wants to coach Kaepernick - assuming he's there. But that means little, especially coming from Kelly.
Finalizing compensation won't be easy - the Niners reportedly want a second, Denver is reportedly willing to offer a fourth - but it looks like if Kaep is going to wind up in another jersey come opening day, it's likely to have a Bronco emblazoned on the front.
