Pernell McPhee Visits Redskins
Former Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee has begun his first visit of free agency, meeting with the Redskins on Sunday night, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The meeting will continue to Monday. 
Highly sought after as a free agent in 2015, McPhee, 29, struggled with injuries as a member of the Bears. The Bears signed him to a five-year, $38.75MM contract and he made $23.2MM. He was set to earn $7.5MM this season and his release cleared $7.1MM in cap space for Chicago. He contributed 14 sacks and 90 tackles while making 17 starts.
If he signed with the Redskins, Washington would assuredly hope for a return to his Baltimore days, when he logged 17 sacks in four years as a rotational pass rusher.
The Redskins have been busy on the defensive side of the ball early in free agency, re-signing linebacker Zach Brown and setting up meetings with cornerback Orlando Scandrick, defensive end Benson Mayowa and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
Redskins To Host DT Johnathan Hankins
The Redskins plan to meet with defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who was released by the Colts earlier today, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The visit will take place on Sunday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
[RELATED: Redskins To Host Orlando Scandrick]
Washington apparently isn’t interested in spending much money on its defensive line, per Keim, but if the club does invest a sum on its front four, it would be on a youthful option. Hankins fits that bill, as he’s only entering his age-26 campaign despite having already played five NFL seasons. The Redskins reportedly had some level of free agent interest in Hankins at this time a year ago, so it makes sense that they’re now circling back to the veteran.
The Colts’ switch back to a 4-3 defense reason was provided as the primary reason for Hankins’ release, but he’d played in a 4-3 look his entire career before signing with Indianapolis. Hankins did play well in Indy’s 3-4 front last season, grading as the No. 20 interior defender among 122 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, so he should fit in with Washington defensive coordinator Greg Manusky‘s 3-4 scheme.
The Redskins signed free agents Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain last offesason, but neither was very effective as Washington ranked 29th in rush defense DVOA and dead last in adjusted line yards. Hankins would play alongside former first-round pick Jonathan Allen if signed, and his addition could potentially place McGee and/or McClain on the Redskins’ roster bubble.
Orlando Scandrick To Visit Redskins
The Redskins will meet with free agent cornerback Orlando Scandrick on Sunday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. (Twitter link). Scandrick was granted his release from the Cowboys earlier today, but could now stay in the NFC East.
[RELATED: Redskins Host Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie]
Washington could be on the hunt for multiple cornerbacks this offseason, as the club not only traded slot corner Kendall Fuller in order to acquire quarterback Alex Smith, but witnessed Bashaud Breeland agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers. Breeland’s pact with Carolina has since been voided due to a failed physical, but there’s no word as to whether the Redskins would be open to re-signing Breeland.
Scandrick has the ability to play outside or inside corner, so he could help replace Fuller, who was one of the NFL’s best slot men in 2017. As a team, the Redskins ranked fourth in DVOA against opposing slot receivers. Washington could potentially use Quinton Dunbar or Fabian Moreau in the slot, but Scandrick may provide an upgrade.
Scandrick, 31, has spent his entire nine-year career in Dallas. He’s dealt with injuries over the past two years, and missed nine games during that span. Last season, Scandrick played on roughly 58% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps, but graded as a bottom-10 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus.
Extra Points: DRC, Redskins, Maxwell
Free agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie says he’s in no rush to make a decision in free agency. Right now, he’s hoping to make a decision “in April sometime” (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson).
Rodgers-Cromartie visited with the Redskins and had a meeting scheduled with the Saints, but it seems that New Orleans lost interest after signing fellow corner Patrick Robinson. The Redskins could still use an addition to their cornerback group, but it’s possible that their offer was not to DRC’s liking. Or, perhaps no offer was made.
Before he was released by the Giants, DRC reportedly agreed to play safety in 2018. That could be a solution for him if his market continues to stall.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- As teams try to hold onto their own players, two to watch: The Redskins are working to keep outside linebacker Junior Galette and the Seahawks are doing the same with cornerback Byron Maxwell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). We had Galette ranked as a top-12 edge rusher heading into free agency. Maxwell did not make the top 15 at his position due to his decline in performance and the depth of this year’s CB crop.
- Linebacker Demario Davis says the Jets didn’t make him an offer before he signed with the Saints. “The shocking thing was the Jets didn’t make me an offer, so that made my decision easy because all I had to do was look at the contenders,” Davis said (via Rod Walker of The Advocate). “It would have been something to weigh. The hardest decision isn’t where to go, but deciding if you want to go or stay. So I didn’t have to make that decision so that was the peaceful thing about it. I was able to just weight my options objectively.” Things worked out just fine for Davis as he signed a three-year, $24MM deal with New Orleans.
- The Dolphins have been talking with agent Drew Rosenhaus about re-signing offensive tackle Sam Young, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. If retained, Young would return as Miami’s third offensive tackle.
Redskins Re-Sign LB Zach Brown
Zach Brown isn’t going anywhere. The Redskins have re-signed the free agent inside linebacker, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth up to $24MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
[RELATED: Redskins Depth Chart, Via Roster Resource]
Brown ranked as our No. 3 ranked linebacker heading into free agency, behind only Nigel Bradham and NaVorro Bowman. Bradham has since re-signed with the Eagles on a five-year, $40MM deal. Bowman, meanwhile, continues to look for his next team and with the incumbent Raiders having interest. Brown’s deal with the Redskins could facilitate a return to Oakland for Bowman.
Brown racked up 127 tackles last year and was vocal about his desire for a better deal. Last year, he settled for a one-year, $2.55MM deal with the Redskins. He’s back in D.C., this time with a pay bump.
In his first campaign with Washington, Brown appeared in 13 games and played on roughly three-quarters of the team’s defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Brown as the league’s No. 51 linebacker among 88 qualifiers, a steep drop off from his 2017 production. As a unit, Washington’s defense ranked 29th in rush defense DVOA. Still, advanced analytics only mean so much to NFL front offices and Brown’s value was evident to the Redskins.
Giants, Redskins Pursuing John Sullivan
The Giants have asked to meet with Rams veteran center John Sullivan, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport hears that he’s also drawing interest from the Redskins. 
The Giants are in search of a new center after losing to the 49ers. Richburg netted a pact worth $47.5MM, with $28.5MM in guaranteed money, but Sullivan would be considerably cheaper.
Sullivan, 32, played 15 games for the Rams last year and graded out as the tenth-best center in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. After sliding down the Redskins’ depth chart in 2016, he re-established himself as a starting-caliber player.
The Giants missed out on the best possible upgrade to their interior line when guard Andrew Norwell signed a mammoth deal with the Jaguars. Still, they landed a great consolation prize in tackle Nate Solder, even if the deal is something of an overpay, and former Jaguar Patrick Omameh projects to hold down one of the team’s starting guard spots.
The Redskins also lost their a center to free agency when Spencer Long agreed to join the Jets. As it stands, Chase Roullier projects as their No. 1 center, as shown on Roster Resource.
On Wednesday, Rams general manager Les Snead said that he has begun talks with Sullivan on a new deal.
Redskins Sign P Sam Irwin-Hill
The Redskins signed punter Sam Irwin-Hill, according to a tweet from agent David Canter. Irwin-Hill is expected to compete with incumbent Tress Way for the starting job.
Way is under contract through the 2020 season, so the odds of Irwin-Hill unseating him are not quite clear. As John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes, Way ranked 13th in yards per punt (45.71) and 28th in net yards (39.02) in 2017 and has done a solid job overall over the last four seasons.
Naturally, as a punter, Way’s contract doesn’t have a ton of guarantees. If they feel strongly about Irwin-Hill, who has never punter in an NFL game, they can cut way with $750K in dead money on the cap.
Irwin-Hill spent last offseason with the Cowboys but ultimately lost out on that punting competition. He is an Arkansas product, which may have helped him get in with Jerry Jones.
WR Brian Quick To Return To Redskins
The Redskins have reached an agreement to bring back Brian Quick, according to his agency (via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
Last season marked Quick’s first in Washington, and he was not an often-used component of the Redskins’ passing game. Quick caught just six passes — 35 fewer than he had with the 2016 Rams — but he will return to the nation’s capital.
Washington agreed to terms with Paul Richardson on Tuesday and will bring back Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson. While the Redskins lost Ryan Grant to the Ravens, Quick will likely remain a depth performer and special-teamer in what will be his seventh NFL season.
Jaguars To Sign TE Niles Paul
Niles Paul is leaving the Redskins. The Jaguars are set to sign the free agent tight end, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Paul, 29 in August, hasn’t been high on the NFL’s radar since catching 39 passes for 507 yards and one touchdown in 2014. After missing the 2015 season, he saw time in only eight games in ’16 and had a marginal role on the Redskins last year. Over the last two seasons, he has just 15 catches for 121 yards to his credit.
The Jaguars declined their option on Mychal Rivera in February, opening up a spot on the TE depth chart for Paul. However, Jacksonville exercised an option for fellow tight end Marcedes Lewis, while free agent Austin Seferian-Jenkins is scheduled to visit.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Cancels Remaining Visits
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may have found his next home. After meeting with the Redskins, DRC says he’s “not taking anymore visits,” according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Initially, the cornerback was slated to meet with the Saints after his meeting with the Redskins. His change in plans could indicate that a deal with D.C. is in the works.
The Redskins could use DRC, particularly after dealing slot corner Kendall Fuller to the Chiefs in the Alex Smith trade. They’ll also be losing Bashaud Breeland, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers on Tuesday. They still have Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar atop their depth chart at cornerback.