We’ve heard multiple times this week alone that the Redskins are engaged in contract discussions for linebacker Brian Orakpo. However, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, the team has yet to actually extend a formal contract offer to Orakpo and his reps.
It seems likely that the Redskins will offer Orakpo a contract within the next couple days, since Monday is the deadline for teams to designate franchise players. Orakpo would be a strong candidate to receive the franchise tag if no long-term agreement is in place by that point, as I noted yesterday. Still, two people with knowledge of the situation tell Jones that it’s still not clear whether the club plans to franchise its prospective free agent linebacker, or whether he’ll hit the open market.
It’s also possible that the Redskins had been waiting to see exactly how much cap room they’ll have in 2014. Now that the NFL has informed teams the cap will be set at $133MM, the club could move forward with an official offer for Orakpo. That’s just my speculation though.
According to Jones, Washington has also yet to make a formal contract offer to its other key free agent linebacker, Perry Riley.