As of Wednesday afternoon, the Redskins had signed a trio of linebackers who can play special teams, added a receiver and a cornerback who can play inside and outside, injected depth in the trenches and nabbed one big fish in free agency.  

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter found that pattern surprising.

"It was an atypical Redskins year," Schefter told Ross Hollebon at the NFL Annual Meetings in Orlando.

"We usually are used to seeing them spend on the high-ticket, high-profile free agents, and it was just the opposite this year.

"My feeling was when you watched it, Washington was more intent on just filling out the roster."

Schefter said the exception to Washington's offseason acquisition plan - which included placing the franchise tag on Brian Orakpo and re-signing DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Meriweather, Perry Riley Jr., Chris Baker, Santana Moss and Aldrick Robinson - was the team's decision to target defensive lineman Jason Hatcher.

"It surprised me some because I always thought that Washington was on something of a budget," Schefter said.

"They were going to bring in as many players as they could to fill as many holes that they had - and there were enough holes – but that they preferred not to spend big on one player, and they did spend big on Jason Hatcher, which tells you how much the team values and believes in him."

Hatcher had the most productive year of his career in 2013, notching 11 sacks, 41 tackles and two forced fumbles for Dallas. He followed up his first Pro Bowl campaign in eight seasons with the Cowboys by signing with the NFC East rival Redskins on March 14.

The move has the added value of subtracting a pass-rush threat from a team Washington will see twice in 2014. Hatcher has registered 5.5 of his career 27 career sacks against the Redskins.

"I think it strengthens the Redskins and it weakens the Cowboys, which always is a nice added bonus to a move like that," Schefter said.

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