Redskins: Wilkerson, Rodgers-Cromartie leave visits without deals

The Washington Redskins hosted Muhammad Wilkerson and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to visits earlier today. Both players left the facility without deals in place.

The Washington Redskins swung early in the first wave of free agency, signing former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a long-term deal. They also hosted defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on visits today, making use of their limited time. Despite their quick action, nothing materialized out of those visits.

Despite the reported inaction, Wilkerson came away impressed, per Josina Anderson. Wilkerson “liked the vibe” with Jim Tomsula and Greg Manusky, and he is reportedly heading home to gather his thoughts and make a decision from there.

Other than the Washington Redskins, Wilkerson has visited the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs as well. He could make his decision between those three teams, or he could choose to take more visits. Time is of the essence for him, however, as it is for every free agent. His value will decrease if he lets other players get paid before him.

Rodgers-Cromartie’s departure is more surprising. The cornerback’s visit with the Washington Redskins was his first of the offseason, and with Bashaud Breeland on his way to the Carolina Panthers, it seemed likely that Bruce Allen wouldn’t let Rodgers-Cromartie leave without signing a contract. Now, we know that isn’t the case.

As mentioned in the embedded tweet above, nothing appears imminent, but we are in “wait and see” mode. There is a chance that either one of these players could come back and choose the Washington Redskins as their next team, after weighing all their options. There is also a real chance that neither player signs. Such is the way of free agency.

The fact that the Washington Redskins did not lock down either player, despite pressing needs at both positions, shows that the team may like other players at those positions. Other players that could ultimately cost less, or offer more prospective upside.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 6.0: Redskins find a playmaker on defense

Whatever the case, free agency (“Legal tampering”. Of course. My mistake.) will resume tomorrow, and with it, we will have eventual updates on these situations, as well as that of Benson Mayowa, key in-house re-signings, and more. The Washington Redskins started off with a bang, nabbing Paul Richardson to implement a bit of speed into their stagnant offense. But their work is not done yet. There is still much to do.

To see who is still available throughout the league, you can check out FanSided’s live free agency tracker here!