Robert Griffin III has shown ‘franchise-level talent’ and could start in 2017, says Joe Thomas

Robert Griffin III has started just four games with the Cleveland Browns and his availability for the season finale isn’t yet known, but some Browns players have seen enough to feel comfortable with Griffin starting for the team again in 2017.

The Browns are in line for the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft and possibly another top-10 pick by way of the Philadelphia Eagles. But longtime Cleveland offensive tackle Joe Thomas said Griffin has shown enough for the Browns to not jump at the chance to start a rookie next season.

”I think you’ve seen franchise-level talent for sure and I wouldn’t write him off by any stretch of the imagination,” Thomas said of Griffin, via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he was our guy at the beginning of next season because I think he’s shown enough that if they do decide to make Robert the guy, I think he can definitely be the guy and I think he’d have the support of the locker room.”

It was Griffin at quarterback for the team’s 20-17 win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 16, snapping a 17-game losing streak and narrowly avoiding an 0-16 season for the Browns. He suffered a concussion near the end of the game — which he has since been cleared to return from — and was replaced by Cody Kessler.

But in four starts, Griffin’s flashes of ability haven’t led to many points. He has two rushing touchdowns, but hasn’t yet thrown a touchdown pass and has two interceptions. His 64.9 passer rating is last on the team and well behind Kessler’s 92.3 rating.

Still, Browns coach Hue Jackson thought Griffin led the Cleveland offense more efficiently in Week 16 than the stats may have shown.

”I thought he did a good job of standing in there in the first half and delivering some balls on third down and made some crucial third down throws and runs,” Jackson, via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “He made some first downs with his legs, which extended drives which gave us a chance to score more points. I think we had probably more yards, more first downs, more points in the first half than we have had in a long time, and that is kind of the way you hope to play.”

In the latest mock draft from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, the Browns are projected to pick Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett with the first pick, but scoop up Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson with the pick acquired from the Eagles.

With Griffin under contract in 2017 for a $6 million salary — as well as a $1.5 million roster bonus — the best option for the Browns could be Griffin, Kessler, and a newly acquired quarterback battling for the starting job next August.