The Washington Redskins have several big decisions ahead of them thanks in large part to a quarterback depth chart missing a franchise-defining answer.
Robert Griffin III, the guy who was supposed to be that answer, is entering the final year of his rookie NFL contract. The Redskins are currently facing a May 3 deadline on whether or not to exercise the fifth and final option year on Griffin's contract.
Not coincidentally, the 2015 NFL Draft ends May 2.
According to the latest report from Mark Maske of The Washington Post, a source believes the Redskins will exercise the option, but that the outcome of the draft and whether or not the team lands a quarterback could change things.
"One person familiar with the situation said Wednesday he expects the Redskins to exercise Griffin's option year following the draft," reports Maske. "But the team has not made that official and its first-year general manager, Scot McCloughan, has left open the possibility of using the fifth overall selection in the draft on Marcus Mariota if the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback remains available."
While it would seem unlikely for the Redskins to actually take Mariota with the fifth-overall selection in the first-round considering the presence of Griffin, along with Colt McCoy - whom head coach Jay Gruden seems to favor - and the talented, but turnover-prone Kirk Cousins, in the NFL, success depends on having a franchise quarterback.
Unless Gruden and McCloughan are certain that one of the three can become that - and there's been nothing to this point to suggest that they do feel that way - then drafting Mariota, despite glaring needs on defense in the secondary and at pass-rusher, could certainly be the way to go.
In March, ESPN's John Clayton revealed that Gruden and the rest of the Redskins decision-makers - outside of owner Dan Snyder, of course - believe that the answer is not on the Washington roster right now, making Mariota a very real possibility for the team at No. 5.
"And honestly, don't discount, he's not going to fall to the Jets at six right now, the Redskins will take him at five. At least Dan Snyder might not think there's quarterback issues, Jay Gruden and everyone else in the front office thinks there's quarterback issues," Clayton said on ESPN's Freddie Coleman show, per 24/7 Sports.
"And if Marcus Mariota falls to five, it's not a position where they're desperate enough to trade up to get him, but if he falls to five, I'm telling you this right now, they'll take him."
Of course, were the Redskins to actually nab Mariota, Griffin's fate in burgundy and gold would be all but sealed - assuming it isn't already.
