Washington Redskins: How They Should Approach 2015 NFL Free Agency

Year in and year out, the Washington Redskins seemingly win the offseason by making the biggest splash in free agency. Those splashy signings, however, have not equated to success on the field during the regular season.

With new general manager Scot McCloughan running the show, Washington's approach should be more calculated than ever before.

Perhaps "calculated" is the most accurate word for how the Redskins should approach 2015's free-agency period. It is a word that has been absent from the franchise's tack since Dan Snyder bought the team back in 1999.

McCloughan's presence means free agency this season will not be a priority.

Free agency has been an exercise in futility for the Redskins since Snyder took over as owner. Big names, big money, scant results.

The draft is where McCloughan and Washington's focus will be this offseason. That has been his focus wherever he has gone, from Green Bay to San Francisco to Seattle.

The free agents a team signs should be the guys they drafted and developed the way they want. Unfortunately, the Redskins have routinely been about fixing all of the problems in one offseason, which has yielded no results. This offseason can and should be different because of who is in charge.

The draft should be used to build the foundation and find the players who will be staples of the franchise for the next decade.

Free agency is where you fill in the gaps, which is what the Redskins need to do—particularly with the offensive line and secondary. Washington needs to prioritize its problems and sort them into which positions it can upgrade in free agency and which positions would be better upgraded via the draft.

If that is the approach, the Redskins should target guard Mike Iupati, cornerback Kareem Jackson and free safety Rahim Moore.

Iupati would fill the gap created by releasing Chris Chester or the inconsistent Shawn Lauvao, beefing up the interior offensive line that was pushed around for much of the past two seasons.

Jackson would allow the Redskins to move David Amerson to nickel or free safety, while making DeAngelo Hall expendable.

Moore would bring youth and playmaking ability to a position of needy, assuming it isn't filled by either Amerson or Hall moving from corner.

Mark Tenally/Associated Press

Beyond those three, it is difficult to think of any players worth signing as long-term investments when the draft is likely to bring so much more to the roster. Re-signing key free agents like running back Roy Helu and kicker Kai Forbath will be important for the future.

Forbath was tied for 10th in field-goal percentage but tied for 27th in attempts in 2014. Had he been given more chances, he surely would have accounted for more than 72 points from field goals.

Helu is an excellent change-of-pace back for the Redskins. He can get it done carrying the ball and catching out of the backfield. This season, Helu averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 11.4 yards per reception while scoring three touchdowns on 82 total touches on offense.

The big decision will involve outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, who has finished two of the last three seasons on injured reserve while producing just 11.5 sacks. Orakpo has been in the league two years longer than Ryan Kerrigan, yet Kerrigan is just 1.5 sacks from Orakpo's 40 career sacks. That's enough proof that Orakpo is not indispensable.

If Orakpo lowers his asking price to reflect his relative lack of healthy play over the past three seasons, the Redskins should consider bringing him back. If he's asking for max money or even a top-10 contract, they need to let him walk and spend their money elsewhere.

As it stands, the draft could bring an impact defensive lineman in USC's Leonard Williams, who could make Trent Murphy more than adequate at outside linebacker. Or perhaps the Redskins dig in the middle rounds for a pass-rusher.

The 2015 offseason is the beginning of a long-term vision. The big picture is finally a real thing in Washington, as opposed to the recent promises of change and delivering much of the same failure.

The approach to the 2015 free-agency period should be defined by prudence. With a top-notch scout and football mind like McCloughan in charge, the Redskins are going to stay out of the headlines, though that in itself may make headlines.