Washington Redskins' Ultimate Free-Agency to-Do List

Historically speaking, free agency has been a dangerous offseason task for the Washington Redskins. They've been known to shell out millions upon millions for big names only to receive no production on the field.

That is expected to change with Scot McCloughan stepping in as general manager and taking control of building the roster, free agency included.

The Redskins have needs; the market has some potential players to fill them. But that doesn't mean they need to spend a ton of money just because the need exists. They can't be afraid to dig a little deeper into the market for a cost-effective gem or to allow familiar players to find greener pastures elsewhere.

Here's a look at Washington's free-agency to-do list for the offseason.

Re-Sign Tight End Niles Paul

David Seelig/Associated Press

With Jordan Reed being inconsistently healthy in his first two seasons and Logan Paulsen proving unreliable as a blocker and receiver, the Redskins need to preserve not only a special teams ace, but an understated weapon at tight end.

Niles Paul is not likely to be expensive to re-sign given that he isn’t a starter and isn’t a complete player at the position.

But losing Paul would leave the Redskins short an experienced special teams player and short a healthy receiving tight end option. He came out of nowhere in place of the injured Reed and finished the season with a career-high 39 catches and 507 yards, 313 of which came in the first four games of the season.

With the odds against Washington retaining Paulsen, bringing Paul back is a small move that could make a huge difference.

Do Not Re-Sign Safety Brandon Meriweather

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

While I have been critical of Brandon Meriweather since Day 1 in his Redskins tenure, I have to admit he had a decent season in 2014. He was an asset in blitz packages but remained a liability in coverage.

With Ryan Clark retiring and no experienced safeties on the roster otherwise, letting Meriweather go may seem like a big risk.

That said, Washington’s secondary isn’t going to get better overnight, so it's better to clean out the starting safeties who caused so many problems than to preserve one out of fear of not having a veteran starter.

Not that it would be particularly expensive to re-sign Meriweather, but there is no need to keep him if there are better options on the market or in the draft.

Target Seattle Safety Jeron Johnson

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Playing off of parting ways with Meriweather, the Redskins do need to look into upgrading their safety situation. Ryan Clark’s retirement creates an experience issue at free safety but doesn't pose a steep drop-off in ability, considering how awful he was in 2014.

Washington needs to look no further than the Seattle Seahawks' Jeron Johnson.

Not only does Johnson work as a special teams ace, but he could very well provide some much-needed versatility and ability to the secondary as a strong safety.

Johnson may be overshadowed as a reserve behind Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, but he is solid as an in-the-box safety, which is precisely the role Meriweather should have played.

It would be an understated signing, but it would provide an immediate upgrade on special teams and bring both depth and a potential starter into the safety mix.

It doesn’t hurt that he was a Scot McCloughan guy as an undrafted free agent in Seattle.

Poach DE George Selvie from the Dallas Cowboys

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

What better way to stick it to a division rival than to grab one of its unsung defensive players while it scrambles to find money to sign both Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray?

Signing George Selvie solves the problem of the Redskins likely having to cut Stephen Bowen and strongly consider the price tag attached to Jarvis Jenkins.

Jenkins is still a player with potential, but the clock is running out on his opportunity to showcase his worth.

Selvie registered 10 total sacks over his past two seasons in Dallas, which is hardly world-shaking, but shows he can be productive as a starter despite playing in a reserve role early in his career.

At 27, he’s a cheaper, younger option than the 30-year-old Bowen and would bring depth to a defensive line in desperate need of youthful bodies in Washington.

Re-Sign Colt McCoy as Insurance at Quarterback

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

None of the Redskins quarterbacks was particularly impressive throughout the season-long carousel known as the 2014 season. Robert Griffin III showed flashes of “getting it” mixed with longer stretches of looking lost.

Kirk Cousins provided a boost early on in his relief of the injured Griffin but soon became a turnover machine.

Then Colt McCoy came out of nowhere, helped the Redskins beat the then-6-2 Dallas Cowboys and put on some gusty performances as a sort of reliever for the younger quarterbacks.

McCoy probably isn’t getting any offers to be a starter from anyone else, and the situation in Washington’s backfield remains volatile despite Jay Gruden's announcement to reporters at the combine that Griffin will be the starter.

Griffin understands Coach Gruden’s offense, so he can run the read-option stuff and be Washington’s version of Andy Dalton, which is more than anyone would have expected from him a year ago.

Part Ways with Brian Orakpo

Mark E. Tenally/Associated Press

Brian Orakpo's biggest flaw is believing that he doesn't have anything to prove in the NFL. That was the sentiment he carried into the 2014 offseason that led the Redskins to use the franchise tag on him to guarantee him upward of $11 million for the season.

Orakpo was healthy for seven games in 2014 and finished with half of a sack while bringing his three-year total of games missed to 24—or exactly half of the regular-season games the Redskins have played.

He is becoming a bit like Jevon Kearse in a way, a gifted athlete with a ton of potential who caught the injury bug and never recovered.

Injuries may lower Orakpo's asking price, but is it worth it for the Redskins to re-sign a player who has not been healthy or productive for the better part of his past three seasons? Ryan Kerrigan proved he can succeed without Orakpo occupying or commanding extra blockers.

There are a ton of pass-rushing linebackers in the draft without the injury history Orakpo now carries.

Sign 49ers Guard Mike Iupati

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

I have gone back and forth on the idea of spending a chunk of money on Mike Iupati but ultimately feel it would be for the best in Washington.

Shawn Lauvao should not have been signed last season and is more of a weak link than right guard Chris Chester, who has been blown up in pass protection too many times.

Iupati is a road-grader with decent pass-blocking skills. More than anything else, he brings credibility to the Redskins offensive line, which, aside from left tackle Trent Williams, is sorely lacking.

The biggest concern with this signing is overpaying simply because he is the best offensive lineman in an unimpressive market.