3-Wide: Will RG3 revive his career with the Browns?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Will RG3 revive his career with the Browns?
Dan Wilkins: The fact Cleveland will almost certainly still draft a quarterback means Robert Griffin III likely won't be around long term. But that doesn't mean he won't use this opportunity to prove himself to another team. This is still a supremely talented player whose downfall was due in large part to the disastrous situation that came about in Washington. A change of scenery, and the guidance of Hue Jackson, will bring once again bring the best out of RG3.
Arun Srinivasan: In a portmanteau of two of the NFL's biggest punchlines, it appears highly unlikely Griffin will revive his career with the Browns. The Browns' offensive line, once the clear strength of the team, was depleted during free agency as Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz fled for greener pastures. Joe Thomas will do a great job of protecting Griffin, but that may not be enough to save the former Heisman winner from himself. Griffin's inability to stay healthy or develop as a pocket passer won't be aided by one of the league's most decrepit rosters. This seems like an experiment doomed to fail.
Mitch Sanderson: Probably not, but if Griffin's going to do it anywhere, it's Cleveland. He'll be totally pressure-free to win games, and has the fortune of working with quarterback guru Hue Jackson and former Baylor teammate Josh Gordon. Based on their past history of quarterbacks and Griffin's career since his rookie season, it seems pretty far-fetched for him - or anyone else - to become a quality starter in Cleveland, but his rookie season did happen, so there's always a chance.
Which free agent are you most surprised is still on the market?
Sanderson: Not really sure what's holding teams back from signing Nick Fairley. He's only 28 years old and we haven't really seen him get a chance to shine. The defensive tackle was stuck in the shadow of Ndamukong Suh in Detroit and buried on a stellar defensive line with the Rams. The guy has had a couple injury hiccups, but so have a lot of players who are off the free agency board. Maybe he's asking for too much money? Fairley was the 13th overall pick in 2011, an All-American, and a national champion coming out of Auburn. Those aren't coincidences; Fairley can play.
Srinivasan: Rashad Johnson was overshadowed in Arizona's prolific secondary, but the veteran safety would be a quality piece for numerous teams. Johnson displayed excellent ball skills, recording five interceptions, and the free safety proved to be adept at blitzing in the Cardinals' aggressive scheme. In a hyper-aggressive passing league, teams need multiple defensive backs to prosper in the playoffs. Johnson's already proven to be an underrated starter one of the NFL's premier defenses.
Wilkins: Coming off the most productive season of his NFL career, nobody would have expected Ryan Fitzpatrick to remain unsigned over two weeks into free agency. While it still appears likely that he'll sign a new deal to return to the Jets, quarterback-needy teams like the Rams and Broncos are still lurking. Perhaps New York prefers the idea of giving Geno Smith another chance rather than meeting Fitzpatrick's lofty contract demands.
Which new rule will have the biggest impact?
Srinivasan: An ejection for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will likely have the biggest impact next season. Football is inherently an emotional game, and amending its core to become a more family- and television-friendly product is at the center of this new policy. Referees will likely now operate with a shorter fuse, and it seems certain a marquee wide receiver or cornerback will be ejected under this new rule during a critical juncture next season.
Wilkins: Moving touchback starts to the 25-yard line could very well have a significant, and unintended, impact. Though the NFL presumably approved the rule as a way of encouraging returners to opt against bringing the ball out of the end zone, the additional yardage will have kickoff teams experimenting with sending the ball short of the goal line and looking to make a tackle. Should talented NFL kickers have success with such a strategy, the league could be forced to make a rare midseason rule change.
Sanderson: Making all chop blocks illegal is a tough one. Most chop blocks were already illegal, but every offensive line in the NFL was still using the legal ones last season. Offensive linemen have been using elements of the chop block since their high school days, and it will be really difficult for them to kick the habit. It also adds another degree of difficulty to the running game, which was already dying, and might entice teams to pass the ball even more.