5 Perfect Free-Agent Fits for Washington Redskins

Not that it's translated to the field, but when it comes to winning free agency, the Washington Redskins always seem to find themselves at the forefront when it comes to signing the most high-profile free agents.

With Connor Orr of NFL.com reporting that the team has hired Scot McCloughan, the former architect of the San Francisco 49ers, as its new general manager, perhaps the former part can change, though.

In addition to having a first-round pick for the first time in three years, the Skins will enter free agency with roughly $15 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. And that's before you take into account the money the team can free up by cutting ties with some over-the-hill veterans.

Question is, how will they spend it? Let's find out. Here are five perfect free-agent fits for Washington.

All free-agent information is courtesy of ESPN.com.

G Mike Iupati

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On the heels of yet another season in which the Redskins offensive line performed poorly, the team's decision to essentially stand pat with its 2013 starting lineup looks even worse in hindsight.

Remember, entering the 2014 season, Shawn Lauvao was the only new starter. Going from 43 to 58 sacks allowed, in addition to a declining running game, don't count on the team taking a similar approach this offseason.

It won't necessarily right the wrong of giving Lauvao a $17 million contract, but signing guard Mike Iupati would be a start toward upgrading this unit.

Despite dealing with an assortment of ailments this season, Iupati only missed one game. And by virtue of being selected to his third straight Pro Bowl, he bounced back nicely from the fractured fibula he suffered last postseason.

While he did partake in a San Fran offensive line that allowed Colin Kaepernick to be sacked an NFL-high 51 times, this statistic can be attributed to the unrest along the right side of the line. Anthony Davis was hampered by injury all season long, the center position was in a state of flux following Johnathan Goodwin's departure and Alex Boone held out for a new contract to start the season.

Which brings us to why Iupati could very well hit free agency. With Boone's new deal, in addition to the ones handed out to Davis and Joe Staley, the 49ers already have a significant amount of coin invested in their offensive line. Because of that, you have to question how much the team is willing to spend to retain Iupati's services.

Knowing that he would form an elite tandem with Trent Williams along the left side of the offensive line, his asking price shouldn't keep the Skins from pursuing him this offseason.

C Samson Satele

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Knowing that one player alone can't shore up its offensive line, Washington can't stop with Iupati. Routinely overpowered by opposing defenses, the interior of the line needs to be addressed.

In particular, it needs to be beefed up. Going back to when he was first hired, this was something that head coach Jay Gruden touched on, via the team's official website.

“You know, everybody talks about our line getting ‘pushed back,’ so to speak, and it could be true,” Gruden said. 

An issue that showed up primarily in pass protection, the move of Kory Lichtensteiger from guard to center had a negative impact on the team's running game. After averaging over 5.1 yards per carry the previous two seasons, the team's running game mustered just 4.1 yards per rush on runs up the middle in 2014, via ESPN.com.

This isn't to say that Lichtensteiger was a chief weakness on the offensive line, though. In fact, outside of Williams, he probably was the most consistent performer up front. Still, while he's relatively quick, by virtue of being undersized for the position, you have to question Lichtensteiger's durability. All the more reason for the team to pursue a player like Samson Satele.

A true center, something Washington currently lacks on the roster, Satele has 114 starts under his belt during his eight-year career. Brought in at the last minute by the Miami Dolphins, Satele brought stability to an offensive line that was in constant turmoil the year prior.

Ultimately, whether it's to challenge or back up Lichtensteiger, Satele would be a welcome addition to the Redskins.

G/T Orlando Franklin

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Well, to Chris Chester and Tyler Polumbus, it's been fun. In addition to being benched during the season, Polumbus' contract is now up. As for Chester, with a cap hold of $4.8 million in 2015, according to OverTheCap.com, he's as good as out the door.

In recent draft picks Spencer Long and Morgan Moses, the Skins have two young players waiting in the wings to fill these voids. But are they ready?

Moses' looked overwhelmed during his brief stint in the lineup, and he's currently recovering from a Lisfranc injury. As for Long, despite the struggles the team had up front, he was glued to the sideline for much of the season. On the inactive list most weeks, Long saw action in just five contests.

Finishing up his fourth NFL season, Orlando Franklin would seem to be the perfect addition in light of this. 

Franklin is capable of playing both guard and tackle. A player who is sure to garner significant interest in free agency, the acquisition of both he and Iupati would be a pipe dream for Washington.

Still, as the chief backup option to signing Iupati, the signing of Franklin would make a lot of sense in D.C. With his presence, the team could nurture along both Long and Moses in their development. Barring a turnaround from Lauvao, he could even team up with the duo when they finally show themselves to be ready to start.

S Devin McCourty

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The state of the front seven will ultimately be determined by the team's new defensive coordinator. As it's unknown whether Jim Haslett's replacement will keep the 3-4 defense or move to the 4-3. With that said, it'd be too premature to proclaim any prospective free agent who plays along the front seven as a "perfect fit" in Washington.

It doesn't mean the team can't upgrade the secondary, though—particularly at the safety position.

In the Skins' case, regardless of the scheme, any safety who can tackle and simply stay within the vicinity of opposing receivers in coverage would be an upgrade over the current bunch. After watching the adventures both Ryan Clark and Brandon Meriweather had on this front in 2014, this much is evident.

Enter Devin McCourty.

Solid in run support, the former cornerback also has the coverage skills to boot. For a defense that surrendered 56 receptions of 20-plus yards and 12 catches over 40 yards in 2014, McCourty's addition could pay direct dividends.

Listening to the comments New England Patriots safeties coach Brian Flores made to The Boston Globe's Shalise Manza Young (subscription required), McCourty's addition would go a long way toward eliminating the coverage gaffes that were hallmarks of Washington's secondary this season:

"

You really can’t quantify what he brings to the team. His leadership, his communication, he gets a lot of guys lined up, when guys have questions, they ask him. It’s like a coach on the field, quite honestly. He’s a very important cog in our defense. It would be different without him.

"

Finishing 20th or worse in pass defense in five of the past six years, it goes without saying that the team's attempts to fill this position with stopgap options has failed. Without the services of a top-tier safety since Sean Taylor's passing, the Skins would be wise to invest in a player of McCourty's ilk.

CB Byron Maxwell

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In Bashaud Breeland and David Amerson, the Redskins have a solid young nucleus at the cornerback position. That isn't to say, though, that this duo is free of warts. Amerson's play tailed off as the season waned—cue the tape of Washington's season finale—and Breeland was one of the most penalized players in the NFL.

With DeAngelo Hall now recovering from two surgeries on his torn Achilles, in addition to the fact that Tracy Porter is seemingly always hurt, the Skins would be wise to address this position in free agency.

More so the unknown member of the Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom," Byron Maxwell is a player worth targeting.

Not only does he bring size to the table with his 6'1" frame, but by virtue of the team's shying away from Richard Sherman, he has experience going against opposing No. 1 receivers.

A starter in 17 games over the past two seasons, Maxwell's six interceptions and 24 passes defensed easily dwarfs the production the Skins have seen from their own cornerbacks.

After all, as a team, Washington registered just seven interceptions in 2014. 

Question is, though, how much will Maxwell cost? Surely a player with his size and production would command a hefty salary on the open market, right?

Looking at the two players who preceded him in Seattle, that may not be the case. You could point to their injury or suspension history, or the mere fact that they were surrounded with elite talent, but the fact remains that Walter Thurmond and Brandon Browner didn't break the bank as free agents last offseason.

Thurmond settled on a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the New York Giants, while Browner received a three-year, $16.5 million contract from the New England Patriots.

So while the needs are aplenty on the Redskins roster, if Maxwell's predecessors are any indicator, his acquisition wouldn't hamper the team's ability to revamp the roster.