The San Francisco 49ers are having an awful year. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2011, lost their best defensive lineman, a linebacker and that linebacker's young replacement to retirement and their franchise quarterback has been benched for Blaine Gabbert. The team is rebuilding and has already unloaded a former Pro Bowler in Vernon Davis. No players are off limits for this team to get rid of, and for a team needing a new quarterback, Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins might be a possibility. Luckily, they have an asset the Redskins could want in Joe Staley.
As for the Washington Redskins, they have two underwhelming quarterbacks but head coach Jay Gruden seems to refuse to give Griffin any starts. He was hit hard during his rookie season, when he won the Rookie of the Year, and he hasn't been the same since. Kirk Cousins starts over him now under Gruden. Because of that, he had been considered a trade asset all offseason and trade rumors continued into the regular season.
The 49ers can offer Pro Bowl guard Joe Staley for Griffin. Staley's presence would allow rookie Brandon Scherff to move to a more natural right tackle position and bolster a subpar line. Griffin will provide San Francisco with a new quarterback, who might be an improvement over their current quarterbacks, Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert.
This trade makes so much more sense for the Redskins than the 49ers, but draft picks going to San Francisco would even out the trade. If they're going to rebuild, the 49ers need picks and a miracle, which Griffin seemingly pulled in his 2012 rookie campaign. If he can find that talent again, he can lead a team with the weapons of San Francisco into the playoffs.
The real reason this rumor makes sense is that 49ers' owner, Jed York, will seemingly do anything to add to his income. Griffin would sell jerseys and bring exciting play to Levi's Stadium, which could increase the dismal attendance of late.
