Defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois – who recorded career highs in tackles and sacks in 2014 with the Indianapolis Colts – has lined up a visit with the Washington Redskins, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.
Jean Francois – who was entering the final two years of a four-year, $22 million contract in Indianapolis before his release on Monday – is a talented defensive end in the 3-4 system, which will continue to be in use in Washington under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
The 28-year-old LSU product is coming off a career year in which he collected a career-best 28 tackles, three sacks and four passes defensed with the Colts, who advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
For his career, the 6-foot-3, 297-pounder has 96 tackles, 8.5 sacks, eight passes defensed and one forced fumble.
He's also familiar with new Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan, who drafted Jean Francois in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft when he was GM of the San Francisco 49ers, where he is also reportedly visiting this week, Rapoport reported.
Currently, the Redskins are retaining six defensive ends that were on the roster last season (Stephen Bowen, 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.
The Redskins could also address their defensive line with the No. 5-overall pick in April's NFL Draft, where experts believe Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton could be a potential target in D.C.
RELATED LINKS:-- 2015 Free Agency Outlook: Defensive Ends
-- 2015 NFL Free Agents: The Comprehensive List
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