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Redskins: Five free agents to watch on Day 2 of legal tampering

By Ian Cummings

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up prior to their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Outside linebacker Preston Smith #94 of the Washington Redskins runs back an interception in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 17: Outside linebacker Preston Smith #94 of the Washington Redskins runs back an interception in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field on December 17, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

No. 5 – EDGE Preston Smith

I’m going to cheat and list one in-house free agent who hasn’t yet signed with a new team, to the surprise of some.

Preston Smith was expected to be one of the first edge defenders off the board in free agency, but here we are. It’s Tuesday, the second day of the legal tampering period, and no deal is in place yet. A deal is bound to be reached, and Smith has interest from multiple teams, but for now, the door is still open for Washington to make some room and re-sign him.

While some may be on board with that possibility, however, the signing of Landon Collins to a six-year, $84 million deal complicates things. The Redskins let Jamison Crowder walk to the Jets with little resistance. Collins’ blockbuster deal could be a precursory signal of a mass exodus in D.C. And Smith could soon be the next to go. With a strong edge class on the way in April, the value almost demands that Smith leaves.

It was already somewhat of a surprise that Smith remained unclaimed through one day of free agency, so it will be very interesting to see how his situation develops on Day 2. The Redskins could end up getting a third-round compensatory pick in 2020 from Smith, if a team likes him enough. But the early silence surrounding his next contract doesn’t bode well for those hopes. When he finally inks a deal somewhere, the numbers will be telling, not just for Smith, but for the Redskins future without him.

Update: Preston Smith has signed with the Green Bay Packers.

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