The Washington Redskins have, as expected, decided against utilizing the franchise tag on one of their 11 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2015 season.
The league had a deadline of 4 p.m. Monday for teams to use their franchise tag, a one-year tender offer to a player for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position, or 120 percent of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater.
Heading into the start of free agency March 9, the following Redskins players will hit the market as unrestricted free agents:
- Cornerback E.J. Biggers
- Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson
- Running back Roy Helu Jr.
- Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins
- Quarterback Colt McCoy
- Safety Brandon Meriweather
- Wide receiver Santana Moss
- Nose tackle Chris Neild
- Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo
- Tight end Niles Paul
- Tackle Tyler Polumbus
The Redskins last season utilized the franchise tag on Orakpo, who had earned three Pro Bowl selections since being taken in the first round (13th overall) by Washington in the 2009 NFL Draft.
But the 6-foot-4, 257-pound Texas product logged just 28 tackles and a half sack by Week 7, when he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury – the final of many nagging issues for Orakpo in 2014.
In his place, rookie Trent Murphy – a second-round pick out of Stanford – collected 50 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and finished third on the team with 16 quarterback pressures.
The Redskins are reportedly in talks to possibly bring Orakpo back, and many believe they will target a pass rusher with the No. 5 pick in April's NFL Draft.
Those tagged by other teams by 4 p.m. Monday included:
- Linebacker Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
- Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
- Wide receiver Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
- Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants
- Kicker Stephen Kostkowski, New England Patriots
- Tight end Charles Clay, Miami Dolphins
RELATED LINKS:-- Washington Redskins 2015 Mock Madness
-- Charles Davis’ Defensive Players To Watch
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