The Redskins placed the franchise tag on tight end Fred Davis, and tendered offers to place kicker Graham Gano, an exclusive rights free agent, and guard Kory Lichtensteiger, a restricted free agent.
The Davis move has long been expected as Davis figured to be perhaps their most attractive free agent to other teams. Strong safety LaRon Landry wasn’t as serious a candidate to be franchised in part because of his Achilles injury. There’s a reluctance to commit that sort of money to a player whose health remains in question.
Once a player signs the offer, the money is guaranteed. The Redskins would like Landry to sign a one-year deal and prove he can stay healthy. A franchised safety would make approximately $6.5 million, a hefty sum if you’re not sure the player can stay healthy.
It’s not guaranteed that Landry return, but the Redskins don’t have a starting replacement for him on the roster and therefore would need to find one in free agency or the draft — it’s not a great year for safeties in the draft and the best free agent, Tyvon Branch, was franchised by Oakland.
For Davis, a tight end who is franchised will make approximately $6 million. But Davis comes with a risk: If he tests positive one more time for drugs he’ll be suspended one year. He was suspended by the NFL for the final four games of 2011 after failing multiple drug tests.
Davis set career highs for catches (59) and yards (796) a year ago as the No. 1 tight end. The Redskins still have Chris Cooley on the roster as well.
The Redskins tendered a fourth-round offer to Lichtensteiger, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2008. That means he’ll make $1.2 million. Lichtensteiger knew long ago that he would receive a fourth-round tender. He’s coming off a torn ACL and has said he’ll be ready for training camp and should be 100 percent by late spring.
