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Bears, Bills, Browns, Eagles, Giants most likely destinations for Robert Griffin III

The Washington Redskins named Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback on Monday for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, putting Robert Griffin III’s future with the franchise in serious doubt.

With final cuts due by 4 p.m. ET Saturday, we asked our NFL Nation network of 32 reporters to rate the interest (low, medium, high) each of their teams would have in acquiring Griffin, who could be traded or released by the Redskins.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys: Low. I wanted to say medium because of the deferential way Jerry Jones spoke about Robert Griffin III after the Thanksgiving game in which the quarterback had four touchdown passes. The Cowboys like to take chances on former high-round picks and would have a chance at an ultimate bargain in Griffin. But the circus around his acquisition would be too much to take. -- Todd Archer

New York Giants: Medium. This actually makes more sense than you might think, though only if the Giants think he’s retrievable. Giants quarterback Eli Manning hasn’t missed a game in his entire career, which dates back to 2004, so the job of the Giants’ backup quarterback is basically to run the scout team. Griffin could be a valuable scout team quarterback due to his speed and athleticism and his ability to mimic different kinds of quarterbacks. And if the Giants see him as a guy they can still develop into something down the road, it could be worth considering. A bigger issue than Eli actually might be backup Ryan Nassib, whom they like, and the Giants’ preference not to carry three quarterbacks. -- Dan Graziano

Philadelphia Eagles: Medium. Normally, the answer would be "low” for a team that traded for Sam Bradford and signed Tim Tebow in the offseason. But we’re talking about Chip Kelly here, and visions of RG III running Kelly’s offense could prove irresistible. -- Phil Sheridan


NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears: Medium. Jay Cutler is in a make-or-break year, but offensive coordinator Adam Gase likes established pocket passers. Still, Chicago’s quarterback depth behind Cutler is suspect -- Jimmy Clausen, David Fales and Zac Dysert. Head coach John Fox once made the playoffs with Tim Tebow. Can’t rule it out. -- Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions: Low. The Lions have Matthew Stafford as the starter, and Griffin wouldn't get a chance to pass him. Lions coach Jim Caldwell has also done a good job of creating a drama-free locker room, and it would be surprising to see Detroit mess with that. -- Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers: Low. Even if the Packers didn’t have NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and a healthy backup situation with Scott Tolzien and rookie Brett Hundley, RG III wouldn’t be a good fit in coach Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense. He wants quarterbacks with precise footwork and throwing mechanics, not a freestyle runner. -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings: Low. The Vikings drafted Teddy Bridgewater a year ago and believe he's their quarterback of the future. Unless RG III is interested in being a backup -- and he's probably not -- there's no spot for him in Minnesota. -- Ben Goessling


NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons: Low. Although the Falcons have been concerned about their backup situation behind Matt Ryan, I don’t see them pursuing Griffin. Remember, Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan had Griffin for two years in Washington, and Shanahan surely doesn’t want to go through the same “challenge” he had back then with tailoring the offense to Griffin and possibly dealing with injury concerns. -- Vaughn McClure

Carolina Panthers: Low. If there were a category below that, I’d use it. The Panthers signed Cam Newton to a five-year extension in June. He is their quarterback of the future. They also have Derek Anderson, who signed a two-year extension and could start for a third of the teams in the NFL. They also love third-stringer Joe Webb, who also can play all four phases of special teams. They wouldn’t take RG III if he were given to them. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints: Low. Drew Brees won’t be around forever, but he’s entrenched as the starter for at least another couple of years. And they drafted QB Garrett Grayson in the third round as a developmental project. It’s not crazy to think they would consider kicking the tires on a young guy with so much potential. But Griffin doesn’t seem like the right fit when it comes to price tag, offensive style or the media circus that might come along with him. -- Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Low. Jameis Winston was drafted at No. 1 to be the franchise quarterback. Mike Glennon is an above-average backup. The Bucs are set at quarterback. -- Pat Yasinskas


NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals: Low. There are many reasons the Cardinals’ interest in RG III would be low -- or even lower, if it’s possible. He’s not built like a Bruce Arians-style quarterback; the Cardinals have a backup Arians loves in Drew Stanton; and Griffin is too injury-prone -- and that’s the last thing the Cardinals need out of a quarterback. -- Josh Weinfuss

San Francisco 49ers: Low. Sure, RG III's skill set more closely resembles that of Colin Kaepernick's than backup Blaine Gabbert's does, and it would be intriguing to see Griffin and Kaepernick duel over who was the alpha dog in Santa Clara, but the Niners are all-in on Kaepernick. Plus, the Internet probably would break. Haven't the Niners suffered enough this year? -- Paul Gutierrez

Seattle Seahawks: Low. Russell Wilson is signed through the 2019 season, so there would be little upside in adding Griffin. Even if the Seahawks signed him and developed him, there would be no payoff in Seattle. The Seahawks are in win-now mode. Given that Griffin has struggled to stay healthy and would be learning a new scheme with the regular season approaching, adding him as a backup wouldn’t make sense. -- Sheil Kapadia

St. Louis Rams: Low. The Rams could've had Griffin in 2012 but traded the chance to acquire him to Washington for a boatload of draft picks. Now, they have Nick Foles entrenched as the starter after he signed a two-year contract extension. They also traded a seventh-round pick for Case Keenum to be the backup and drafted Sean Mannion in the third round this year. So finding a fit for RG III seems unlikely. -- Nick Wagoner


AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills: Medium. I've learned to expect the unexpected with Rex Ryan, but acquiring RG III wouldn't make much sense. They couldn't have gotten better play this preseason from Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, and Manuel looks to be the favorite to back up Taylor this season. -- Mike Rodak

Miami Dolphins: Low. The Dolphins got their quarterback decision correct in the same 2012 draft by picking Ryan Tannehill at No. 8. There is no reason for Miami to revisit three years ago and pick up Washington’s mistake. -- James Walker

New England Patriots: Low. Griffin doesn’t seem like a fit for their program or system. I think they’d be more inclined to look in the direction of Matt Cassel should the Bills decide to release him. -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets: Low. Maybe they’d consider it after the season. For now, they’re comfortable with starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith, who should be healthy and available after the fourth game. Rookie Bryce Petty will carry the clipboard for at least a year. -- Rich Cimini


AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens: Low. Joe Flacco is the unquestioned starter who has never missed a start, and backup Matt Schaub is guaranteed $2 million this year, so Baltimore is financially committed to him. The Ravens have carried only two quarterbacks the past six years. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals: Low. Since signing him to a contract extension last August, the Bengals have continually said they believe Andy Dalton is their starting quarterback. They do not want to create a quarterback controversy, and any move bringing RG III to Cincinnati would do just that. Besides, AJ McCarron has emerged as a solid No. 2 this preseason. -- Coley Harvey

Cleveland Browns: Medium. The Browns made a run at RG III when he came out of college but were outbid by Washington. The team's uncertainty at quarterback remains, so I think they kick the tires on him -- with the thought that he can come in, learn, grow, get healthy, and play if and when he's ready. The Browns would not assume RG III's contract, though, so the real question becomes: Would he sign with the Browns as a free agent knowing Johnny Manziel is on the team? -- Pat McManamon

Pittsburgh Steelers: Low. Ben Roethlisberger is one of the league’s top five quarterbacks. Mike Vick is a serviceable backup. The Steelers are still giving their 2013 fourth-round pick, Landry Jones, a chance. This franchise is well-stocked at quarterback and simply has no room for the baggage RG III carries with him. -- Jeremy Fowler


AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans: Low. At this point it would take the Texans too long to familiarize a quarterback with their system. Both veteran quarterbacks the Texans have brought in in the past 53 weeks have been players who have some experience with Bill O’Brien’s system. -- Tania Ganguli

Indianapolis Colts: Low. Can there be option for no chance at all? The Colts wisely selected Andrew Luck over RG III with the No. 1 pick in 2012. Luck is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. RG III, well, he's lost these days. -- Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars: Low. The Jaguars are excited about the development of second-year quarterback Blake Bortles, who has completed 65 percent of his passes and hasn’t thrown an interception in the preseason. They’re also happy with veteran Chad Henne as the backup, and Bortles really likes and respects Henne. RG III isn’t heading here. -- Michael DiRocco

Tennessee Titans: Low. The Titans are set at quarterback with two young guys they like at the head of the line in Marcus Mariota and Zach Mettenberger. They’d have zero interest in RG III. -- Paul Kuharsky


AFC WEST

Denver Broncos: Low. The Broncos don’t have the salary-cap space to absorb Griffin’s contract. They also have Peyton Manning, who topped 4,700 yards last season to go with 39 touchdowns, as their starter. And they have two of their own draft picks behind Manning in Brock Osweiler (second round, 2012) and Trevor Siemian (seventh round, 2015). -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs: Low. The Chiefs don’t have room for RG III this year with Alex Smith, Chase Daniel and Aaron Murray. That’s not to say he wouldn’t make sense for the Chiefs down the road. Andy Reid rescued Mike Vick’s career and could do the same with RG III. -- Adam Teicher

Oakland Raiders: Low. Derek Carr is in his second year, and the Raiders are fully committed to developing him. Griffin wouldn’t make sense as a backup. The Raiders are not a fit. -- Bill Williamson

San Diego Chargers: Low. Philip Rivers just inked a four-year, $83.25 million contract extension as the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. San Diego offensive coordinator Frank Reich leans toward more traditional dropback quarterbacks who can operate from within the pocket, so Griffin probably isn't a fit. -- Eric D. Williams

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