Current 2014 Free Agents

The transition tag doesnt give any compensation but does the other 2.

The non-exclusive franchise tag (which is different than the franchise tag. The franchise tag does not allow a player to negotiate with any other teams at all) is what gives 2 firsts as compensation if he signs elsewhere and it doesnt get matched.

Plus it would cost 9 vs 11 million

The NFL's salary cap could break $150 million by 2016 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10532044/the-nfl-salary-cap-break-150-million-2016)

So with this new salary cap number, which is the highest ever.. How much do we have to spend again? Aren't signing Orakpo and high priced FA like Byrd now more reasonable?

FA doesn't fix all problems, but bringing young FA in their primes seems great if we can fit it into the cap..

Orakpro not worth the price. Orakpo has not had one great game against a top left tackle . Not one. Never sacked Tony Romo . For example.

So with this new salary cap number, which is the highest ever.. How much do we have to spend again? Aren't signing Orakpo and high priced FA like Byrd now more reasonable?

FA doesn't fix all problems, but bringing young FA in their primes seems great if we can fit it into the cap..

When the cap number goes up, the tag numbers go up some, as well. Nevertheless, I think you're right in the case of teams that just need to add a couple of finishing pieces to their rosters. For them, signing high priced FA's probably does make more sense now than ever before.

Unfortunately, right now the Redskins have so many roster holes to fill that they may feel the need to sign eight, ten, or even more FA's. For the Skins, even the accelerating cap number may not allow them the cap room they think they need to sign a top FA or tag one of their own players, like Brian Orakpo, and still fill most of the other roster holes. That seems to be their dilema.

I agree with you about bringing in young FA's in their primes. If the Skins are ever to become perennial contenders, The FA's they sign now must still be on the roster when their young QB and their other draftees have developed.

just want to piggie back on what everybody else is saying , if we franchise tag rak. his cap hit is 11.55 million i like him really alot but not at that price per yr.when we have so many other nneds as well ,i was hoping he would take something around 4 yrs and 9 million per yr i think thats a good price for him.i just can,t give him almost 12 mil. per yr

For Orakpo's position, you either you draft with a first rounder or you are going to pay a high price in free agency. It is the highest paid position besides QB.

and one more thing we still have to sign a middle linebacker ,and what p.riley is asking for might be to much also.we mneed help bad.....

Maybe we keep Jackson pray about Jenkins and let Rak go.

I agree, give him at least the transition tag. We've lost Rogers, Landry and gotten nothing in return let's not do it with Orakpo. Who out there is better than Orakpo? Pay him.

I don't think it comes down to who's better. It comes down to getting a fair deal. We have so many holes. With the money it's going to take to pay him, we could fill multiple positions which could also help with special teams. I could see if Rak was a game changer, but he's not. I would try and go with the cheaper option in Jenkins and perhaps re-sign Jackson/Tapp. In 2012, the defense played better w/out him.

I have to agree with most of the posts here... I really like Orakpo... Yet we really didn't seem to miss him THAT much when he was hurt for 14.5 games in 2012... At least not enough for the price he is asking with the current state the team is in... We have a lot of holes and the money could be used to add a few players at positions of need, not just one where even have a serviceable back up that played well in Raks absence .. I'm torn, dunno what's gonna happen but I'd be sad to see him go regardless... Torn.