Redskins place franchise tag on Orakpo

I hope they did this in order to iron out a long-term deal with him... We have so many holes to fill, it really hurts that over 30% of our FA Cap is going to one player...

That "FA Cap" isn't a set number though, they can always restructure contracts, cut players, etc. There isn't any reason to assume we can't maneuver within the cap to get the players we want.

@ MOOBY

That "FA Cap" isn't a set number though, they can always restructure contracts, cut players, etc. There isn't any reason to assume we can't maneuver within the cap to get the players we want.

Yes but committing that much money to one player worries me when we have so many holes to fill on the lines, MLB and secondary... I like Sackpo and want him in DC, but for more than 10 million a year isn't worth that IMO.... Good organizations don't overpay for talent, and replace them in house, which seems to be a real problem we have...

Five thoughts: Washington Redskins' Brian Orakpo - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/61179/five-thoughts-brian-orakpo)

Good read from earlier today

@RapSheet

What is next for #Redskins pass-rusher Brian Orakpo? I’m told he has no plans to sign the franchise tag as of now. May be a while.



Guess he didn't like the tag too much.

He will

So here's my issue with this whole situation (and I'm pro using the tag on Orakpo):

Prior to Mike Shanahan's dismissal, the Redskins had a real issue with evaluating their own talent. Couldn't do it. So Mike Shanahan goes.

The Redskins are now internally conflicted on how much Orakpo is worth. He're the big issue: whether he is going to cost $10 mil/year or $13 mil/year, he's ACTUALLY worth a lot more and only will be limited in earnings by the salary cap. So NO MATTER WHAT, you are getting him at a favorable price.

The "percentage of the salary cap" argument that the Redskins are having internally right now is a red herring. Here's why: not every free agent you target is going to seriously consider Washington. Some will, some won't. And all are going to consider the best offer more heavily than the town that wants them. There is no such thing as a free agent "bargain" in March.

So whether Orakpo takes up 8.7% of the cap he currently is or the 5% of the cap they would have wanted to pay for him, they still have 14% of the cap that is unused at the moment. And Orakpo isn't going to be able to get true market value in a capped system. Basically, the Redskins are really struggling to properly value a player on their own roster when it needs to be an obvious decision to all parties involved that no matter what you believe he's worth, he's going to have to sign for less than that.

Player valuation is still very much an issue here. That's going to be an issue later in the offseason when it's time to extend Orakpo.

They still have to agree to terms with him. If the franchise tag keeps him here in 2014, but he walks away in 2015, they haven't really accomplished anything. This buys them a lot more time, but if the front office doesn't get it's crap together, it's meaningless.

@RapSheet

What is next for #Redskins pass-rusher Brian Orakpo? I’m told he has no plans to sign the franchise tag as of now. May be a while.



Guess he didn't like the tag too much.Or he gets a free offseason away from football until he signs it, and doesn't get paid to be at the facility in the meantime.

After they make their key cuts, the Redskins will be in the ballpark of $25 million in cap space.

If Bruce Allen sticks tightly to his desire to not overpay anyone, it's not even going to be possible to spend to the salary cap this year. The only way he can spend $25 million in cap space is to overpay guys. The free agent class of 2006 (Archuleta, Randle El, Lloyd (traded, but extended), and Carter) cost just a bit over $12 million on the cap that year. And that was the definition of careless spending.

The idea that the franchise tag on Orakpo does anything at all to the Redskins offseason plans is a stretch. You check a position off the list. That's easy.

So here's my issue with this whole situation (and I'm pro using the tag on Orakpo):

Prior to Mike Shanahan's dismissal, the Redskins had a real issue with evaluating their own talent. Couldn't do it. So Mike Shanahan goes.

The Redskins are now internally conflicted on how much Orakpo is worth.

The "percentage of the salary cap" argument that the Redskins are having internally right now is a red herring.

This buys them a lot more time, but if the front office doesn't get it's crap together, it's meaningless.

Coaches don't give a shit about the salary cap. They'll blow it all right now and fuck the future if it means winning now. (which they have to do) You don't think Haz is trying to save his ass by wanting Orakpo back? He knows his ass is on the line and he doesn't care about the cap ramifications for the future.

Also, maybe they didn't have a problem evaluating talent, but a problem with coaches listening to evaluators? That seems to be the common thing here. Vinny didn't listen. Mike didn't listen. Apparently this coaching staff isn't listening.

No big deal with the tag. Yeah Rak isn't a 11 million dollar player but we're also not tied to him long term either. I like this move for now. Let's see how it plays out. We still have plenty of room to make some improvements.