Report: Redskins “Prefer To Keep” Brian Orakpo, But View It As A “Difficult Decision”

Update:

Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports that although the Redskins would “prefer to keep” free agent OLB Brian Orakpo, it is viewed as a “difficult decision” within the organization.

“I think there’s a lot of back and forth on it,” a one person with knowledge of the team’s deliberations tells Maske.  “I don’t think it’s clear cut.”

• Maske’s source added that “it wouldn’t be shocking” if the Redskins came to the conclusion that keeping Orakpo was ultimately too expensive.
• According to Maske, there are some within in the team who believe Washington could still franchise Orakpo before Monday’s deadline.

Franchising Orakpo would run the Redskins $11.455 million guaranteed, but it would also buy them some additional time to negotiate a long-term contract.

In the event that Washington allows him to test the free agent market, a source tells Maske that Washington will try to find a replace either free agency or the draft.

Orakpo finished the 2013 season with 10 sacks and has 39.5 career sacks in just 64 games for the Redskins defense and is clearly one of the best edge rushers set to be an unrestricted free agent. He would have no shortage of suitors if he were to become available.

We have Orakpo listed as the No. 4 player in our Top 50 – 2014 Free Agents list.

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Jason La Canfora reports that the Redskins and free agent OLB Brian Orakpo “aren’t close” to an agreement regarding a long-term contract extension.

• La Canfora would be “very surprised” if Orakpo did not reach the open market.

According to La Canfora, using one of the Redskins’ tags on Orakpo would out “too many resourced in one position for a team with holes.”

La Canfora adds that this wouldn’t be GM Bruce Allen’s “style to tie up that much cap space in one guy.”

• Chris Russell of  ESPN Radio 980 recently spoke with a league source who mentioned that the Redskins may only have two options for Orakpo.
• According to Russell’s source, those options are either use the transition tag on Orakpo or allow him to test the free agent market in the coming weeks.
• Mark Maske of the Washington Post, citing a “person with knowledge of the situation,” reported Friday that the Redskins haven’t extended Orakpo an offer up to this point.