Washington Redskins: 5 Best Options to Replace Brian Orakpo This Offseason

In theory, the Washington Redskins' decision to build their defense around their pass rush was a sound one. 

With its secondary needing massive retooling, the only way for the team to fend for itself against its NFC East rivals was to get after the quarterback.

After posting 36 sacks in 2013, the Redskins doled out a $27.5 million contract to Jason Hatcher, drafted Trent Murphy and slapped Brian Orakpo with a $11.45 million franchise tag.

Well, it wasn't money well spent. The team's sack total didn't improve. Murphy struggled to transition to the NFL and registered just 2.5 sacks. As for Hatcher, he predictably failed to match the 11 sacks he posted the year prior. He ended his first season in D.C. with 5.5 sacks.

Then there's Orakpo. His season was cut short for a third time by a torn pectoral muscle. In the seven games he did appear in, he tallied only half a sack.

Knowing that they can no longer count on Orakpo to stay on the field, let alone be a game-changer, the time has come for the Redskins to find his replacement. 

The owners of the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, in addition to over $12.1 million in salary-cap space, according to Spotrac, the Redskins won't be short on options to fill his void.

With that mind, here are the five best options to replace Orakpo this offseason.

Justin Houston

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During his introductory press conference, new general manager Scot McCloughan expressed his intent to build the Redskins through the draft. But as was the case with Justin Smith in San Francisco, he'll splurge in free agency if the right player is available.

Justin Houston falls under this category. He tallied 22 sacks in 2014, and he's on par with Ndamukong Suh as one of the top defensive players in this year's free-agent class.

With the Redskins sporting a relatively green secondary, pairing Houston with Ryan Kerrigan could drastically improve a pass defense that's ranked 20th or lower in four of the past five seasons.

According to Neil Greenberg of The Washington Post, no 3-4 linebacker got to the quarterback more often than Houston and Kerrigan last season.

Far from a one-trick pony, Houston was rated fourth in Pro Football Focus' run-stopping ratings as well in 2014, via Greenberg.

Still in the prime of his career at the age of 26, Houston could serve as the cornerstone of the Redskins' next great defense.

Dante Fowler Jr.

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Provided that Houston's asking price is too high for Washington's taste, the team should look into drafting Dante Fowler Jr. as Orakpo's replacement.

After all, if you let draft guru Mike Mayock tell you, Houston is whom Fowler's drawn comparisons to at the NFL level. According to Reid Ferrin of the Atlanta Falcons' official website, Mayock went as far as to call Fowler the draft's top edge-rusher.

While ESPN's Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. didn't rate him as such, Fowler's showing at the NFL Scouting Combine could bring some draft analysts around to Mayock's side of things.

He weighed in at 261 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds.

Fowler isn't a finished project by any means, but with his ability to play both the run and pass, he'll make an impact as a rookie.

Shane Ray

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Looking at Washington's pass rush, one notable omission is a speed rusher.

While he validated himself as a cornerstone of the team's future, it wasn't speed that netted Kerrigan 13.5 sacks. In fact, going back to his days as a draft prospect, there was worry that his lack of elite speed would keep him from consistently getting around the edge.

The same can be said about Murphy, who is built in a similar mold. 

Enter Shane Ray. A player with a nonstop motor, Ray had 14 sacks for Missouri in 2014. He may be undersized at 6'2" and 240 pounds, but he brings explosive athleticism to the table.

While he didn't get to showcase this at the combine because of a foot injury, ESPN's Josina Anderson saw Ray as a potential 4.4 guy in the 40-yard dash:

"

Shane Ray's 40 was the one run I was looking most forward to watching. 4.4 potential. Shame.

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 22, 2015"

Ray does have his warts, though. Because he's been so reliant on his athleticism, he doesn't yet have the array of pass-rushing moves he'll need to excel at the NFL level. Furthermore, as Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com note, Ray has his issues with getting off blocks in the running game.

By using a platoon with Ray and Murphy, though, the Redskins can work around this weakness and utilize Ray as situational pass-rusher in his rookie year.

Randy Gregory

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Another candidate to be selected with Washington's No. 5 overall pick, Randy Gregory is rated by ESPN's Steve Muench as the draft's top pass-rusher.

Looking at his collegiate career at Nebraska, it's easy to see why.

Despite being limited by injuries in his three years there, Gregory finished his career ninth on the school's all-time sacks list, according to the school's official website. In 23 games (20 starts), he tallied 17.5 sacks and 35 hurries on the quarterback.

Durability is a concern scouts have with Gregory because of his size and injury history, as he broke his leg in 2012. But as Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net notes, he's made strides to bulk up in the lead-up to the draft:

"

Randy Gregory/Nebraska weighed in at 238lbs. Came to combine training at 218lbs.

— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) February 20, 2015"

Provided that he can maintain this playing weight, if not get bigger, Gregory projects to be a player capable of registering double-digit-sack seasons on the regular in the NFL—a feat Orakpo has accomplished just twice.

Vic Beasley

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Lost in the shuffle of this year's deep class of pass-rushers, Clemson's Vic Beasley finally garnered the attention his talent has long deserved at the combine.

As NFL.com's Bucky Brooks put it, Beasley put the critics who openly questioned his size, speed and strength on mute:

"

The 6-foot-3, 246-pound edge rusher pumped out 35 reps on the bench press and posted impressive marks in every athletic drill. From his sizzling 4.53-second time in the 40-yard dash to his terrific measurements in the jumps (41-inch vertical, 130-inch broad) to his remarkable shuttle times (6.91 three-cone drill, 4.15 20-yard shuttle), Beasley showed scouts that he is one of the premier athletes available in this draft. Most importantly, he's packed on nearly 15 pounds since the end of the season without losing any speed or quickness, and he displayed more power than most evaluators expected prior to this event. 

"

While a stellar performance in shorts is hardly an indicator of NFL success, Beasley's resume in pads is just as impressive.

In 48 games (25 starts) at Clemson, Beasley amassed 52.5 tackles for loss, 33 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures and seven forced fumbles, according to the school's official website. Clemson's career leader in sacks, he was also a two-time first-team All-American.

Beasley's performance may not propel him to the top of the draft, but in the event Washington decides to trade down at the draft, he's a player the team should target.