NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that the Washington Redskins plan to franchise tag their tight end Fred Davis before he can hit the free-agent market.

The move comes after Davis’ breakout fourth year as a ‘Skin, catching 59 passes for 796 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games.  His season was cut short after being suspended for the final four games after repeatedly failing drug tests.

Tagging Davis allows the Redskins to give him one more year to evaluate his talent and see if the former USC standout is worth a long-term contract. The tag will cost the Redskins $5.5 million, which is 100 percent guaranteed, even if Davis is suspended again.

If Davis fails another drug test, he will be suspended for one full season.

This also means the Redskins will have to either re-sign safety LaRon Landry or let him go as an unrestricted free agent.

Landry was not able to complete his 2012 campaign after being sidelined with an Achilles injury.  He has been fighting the same tendon injury for the past two seasons, missing a total of 15 games because of it.

At one point in time Landry was considered a cornerstone of the Redskins defense. It was unimaginable to see Landry walk away from the burgundy and gold uniform, but that day may come very soon.

After having treatment on his Achilles last season, it was suggested by a team-approved doctor that Landry had surgery on his tendon that would require a year and a half to heal. After getting a second and third opinion, Landry opted not to do so.

The former first-round pick now has a cloudy future ahead of him. The ‘Skins most likely won’t grant an injured player a long-term contract. Landry’s refusal to have surgery goes against the organization that drafted him, painting a picture that it’s possible he doesn’t want to return to the nation’s capital.

The Redskins have a lot of rebuilding to do in the near future. This offseason will prove pivotal to how the next five years play out. If Fred Davis can stay out of trouble, he may be here for all of those years, whereas it looks like Landry will not be.