The Redskins, as expected, did not designate anyone a franchise player or transition player by Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The team could have used the franchise and/or transition tags to protect their rights to one of their 14 players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 12 at 4 p.m. However, the tag requires guaranteeing that player an expensive one-year contract. The Redskins entered the week $3 million over the 2013 salary cap.
Washington designated tight end Fred Davis its franchise player last offseason. Doing so again would have meant guaranteeing Davis a one-year deal worth $6.45 million. A doctor recently cleared Davis to run, a milestone in his recovery from October surgery to repair a torn left Achilles’ tendon. However, the Redskins won’t be able to gauge Davis’ recovery until later in the spring, general manager Bruce Allen said last month.
The Redskins have exclusive negotiating rights with their pending free agents until Saturday, March 9. The deadline to submit qualifying offers to their six restricted free agents is March 12 at 4 p.m., the same time unrestricted free agency begins. Washington must be under the salary cap by that time.
The 2012 Redskins starters scheduled to become unrestricted free agents are Davis, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, right tackle Tyler Polumbus, free safety Madieu Williams and Pro Bowl special teamer Lorenzo Alexander.
Starting fullback Darrel Young, long snapper Nick Sundberg, tight end Logan Paulsen are among Washington’s restricted free agents.
