With free agency officially getting underway for the 2015 season Tuesday, March 9, the Washington Redskins have a bevy of options available around the field.
Here's a position-by-position look at who's set to return for the Redskins in 2015 -- and who is hitting the market.
Excerpt: As it stands now, the Redskins currently have two quarterbacks on their roster for 2015 -- Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins -- while Colt McCoy is an unrestricted free agent.
The Redskins may already be set at the position with Griffin III and Cousins, both of whom are entering their fourth season in the NFL.
But, if the Redskins look to have three quarterbacks at least through training camp, there are going to be several quality veterans on the market.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' quarterbacks in action during the 2014 season.
Excerpt:* *As it stands now, two-time Pro Bowler Alfred Morris is joined by Silas Redd Jr. as the only running backs on the Redskins' roster for 2015, while fullback Darrel Young has found his niche in the offense.
Chris Thompson could also return as an exclusive rights free agent.
Roy Helu Jr. -- the team's backup running back in 2014 -- said he'll test the market as an unrestricted free agent beginning Tuesday, meanwhile.
If the Redskins are unable to retain Helu Jr. and they elect to add to the corps via free agency, there are serveral recognizable names available on the market.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' running backs in action during the 2014 season.
Excerpt: The Redskins in 2015 return the likes of DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garçon, Andre Roberts and Ryan Grant at the wide receiver position, but the rest of the corps could see change.
That's because veterans Santana Moss and Leonard Hankerson on Tuesday both hit the market as unrestricted free agents.
There's plenty of receivers -- both of the younger and more experienced variety -- available as free agents, should Washington choose to go that route this season.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' wide receivers in action during the 2014 season.
Excerpt: The Redskins in 2015 return their starting tight end in the talented -- and young -- Jordan Reed, while the do-it-all tight end Logan Paulsen is also set to return for his sixth season with the Redskins.
But Washington will also face uncertainty at the position when it comes to backup Niles Paul, a converted wide receiver who recorded career-highs in receptions (39) and receiving yards (507) in 2014, and hits the market as an unrestricted free agent next week.
Excerpt: The Redskins currently return three tackles who started at least one game during the 2014 season – Pro Bowler Trent Williams, Morgan Moses and Tom Compton – but stand to lose veteran Tyler Polumbus.
Polumbus, an unrestricted free agent, started 31 of 32 regular-season games during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, but between a mix of injuries and performance, was eventually replaced in the starting lineup in 2014 by Compton.
Excerpt: The Redskins have plenty of players returning at the guard position in 2015, including starters Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao, as well as Josh LeRibeus and Spencer Long.
They also don't currently stand to lose anybody at the position due to free agency.
But if they decide to mix it up, there are plenty of options on the market once it opens up next week.
A countdown of the Top 10 images of Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao during the 2014 season.
Excerpt: For the first time in his seven-year career, Kory Lichtensteiger played center for an entire season in 2014 after finding himself at guard the previous six years.
And, while Lichtensteiger has remained durable, the Redskins could add to their offensive line in 2015 with another quality center.
Behind Lichentensteiger for most of the season on the team's unofficial depth chart was starting guard Chris Chester. Had Chester needed to fill in for Lichensteiger, it would have had an impact on who played guard beside him.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' offensive linemen in action during the 2014 season.
Excerpt: The Redskins could certainly look to free agency to add depth to the interior of their defensive line, as Chris Baker and Kedric Golston are the only players to return with significant recent playing time at the nose tackle or defensive tackle position in 2015.
With the recent release of veteran nose tackle Barry Cofield and with Chris Neild hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent, Washington has plenty of talent available at the position, should they choose to spend the money there.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' defensive linemen in action during the 2014 season.
If the Redskins implement a defensive line rotation similar to that of the 2014 season, then most of the defensive ends on the roster will see extended game action throughout the season.
Currently, the Redskins are retaining five defensive ends that were on the roster last season (Frank Kearse, Chris Baker, Kedric Golston, Jason Hatcher and Robert Thomas), while four-year veteran Jarvis Jenkins is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the team recently released Stephen Bowen.
The team also got a headstart on free agency this week at the defensive end position when it signed Ricky Jean Francois.
A countdown of the Top 10 images of Redskins defensive end Jason Hatcher during the 2014 season.
The Redskins appear set at inside linebacker for the 2015 season, as they return both starters in Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley Jr., as well as backups Adam Hayward and Will Compton.
While the Redskins will certainly add to their linebacking corps, at least for training camp, whether or not they look to add another veteran or two in free agency hasn't been determined. There are plenty of talented names available if they go that route, however.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' linebackers in action during the 2014 season.
Excetpy: The Redskins are also solid in 2015 at the outside linebacker, where they return starter Ryan Kerrigan, potential starter Trent Murphy, as well as young backups in Gabe Miller, Jackson Jeffcoat and Steve Beauharnais, each of whom made plays down the stretch for Washington in 2014.
One of the team's more interesting storylines for the 2015 offseason, however, is if they will pursue a new contract for three-time Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo.
Orakpo missed the final nine games of the 2014 season after tearing a pectoral muscle, and hits the market as one of the more attractive unrestricted free agent pass rushers.
Excerpt: The Redskins return their top three cornerbacks in 2015: DeAngelo Hall, Bashaud Breeland and David Amerson. Also returning is veteran Tracy Porter, who was injured for msot of the 2015 season.
E.J. Biggers, meanwhile, is set to hit the market as a free agent next week.
Don't be surprised if Washington elects to use free agency to add depth and create more competition at the position, starting on Tuesday.
A countdown of the Top 10 images of Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland during the 2014 season.
Excerpt: The safety position could see the most turnover of any for the Redskins in 2015. Gone to retirement is starter Ryan Clark, while the other starter, Brandon Meriweather, becomes an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday.
Returning for the team at the safety position is Akeem Davis, Phillip Thomas and Duke Ihenacho, who was injured for msot of the 2014 season.
Washington could use both the draft and free agency to bolster its look at safety in 2015.
Check out these photos of the Redskins' defensive backs in action during the 2014 season.
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