Redskins Add Lauvao, Hayward; Keep Riley, Moss

The Washington Redskins reached deals with guard Shawn Lauvao and linebacker Adam Hayward and re-signed inside linebacker Perry Riley andreceiver Santana Moss

on Tuesday on a busy first day of NFL free agency.

Washington also expected to complete a 4-year, $16 million deal receiver Andre Roberts, while cornerback Corey Graham was scheduled for a visit to Redskins Park as general manager Bruce Allen and new coach Jay Gruden began in earnest the process of rebuilding a team that went 3-13.

While the Redskins were active, they bucked their own history by making no blockbuster moves within the first few minutes after free agency began at 4 p.m. They began by re-signing Riley -- who led the team with 115 tackles last season and also had three sacks and an interception -- just hours before he was due to hit the open market. A person familiar with the contract, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Redskins did not publicly release the financial details, said Riley's deal is worth about $13 million over three years, including approximately $4.25 million in guaranteed money.

Riley's return gives Washington a measure of stability in the heart of the defense. With longtime captain London Fletcher planning to retire, the Redskins faced the daunting task of replacing both inside linebackers in their 3-4 scheme had Riley signed elsewhere.

Riley, a 2010 fourth-round pick who has started 40 consecutive games, became the third Redskins defensive player to re-sign rather than test unrestricted free agency. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall and defensive lineman Chris Baker also have new deals, and outside linebacker Brian Orakpo is all but certain to return after receiving the franchise player tag last week. Gruden also opted to retain defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

Also coming back is Moss, who turns 35 in June and signed a one-year deal. He had 42 catches for 452 yards in 2013 as the team's No. 3 receiver and has accepted without complaint his reduced role over the last two seasons. He recently passed 10,000 yards receiving for his career, and 2014 will be his 10th season with the Redskins.

Lauvao represents the first move in Gruden's plan to upgrade an offensive line in charge of protecting franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III. A third-round draft pick in 2010, he has played four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, mostly at right guard. Chris Chester has been the Redskins' right guard for three seasons, and Lauvao's arrival could lead to a shuffling of a unit that allowed 43 sacks last year.

The Redskins' special teams units were among the worst in recent NFL history last season, so Hayward was a natural target. He has been a special teams standout over seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who originally signed him when Allen was general manager.

Hayward agreed to a three-year deal, which he is expected to sign Wednesday after he takes a physical.

The Redskins also were also in the final stages of talks to sign Roberts, who spent the last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Roberts would be a candidate to fill the No. 2 receiver spot vacated by Joshua Morgan, who is now a free agent and isn't expected to re-sign.

Roberts had 43 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns last year. His best season with the Cardinals was 2011, when he had 64 catches for 759 yards and five touchdowns.

Graham has played the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and had two interceptions last year. He would compete with second-year player David Amerson for the starting cornerback position opposite Hall.

While they've been one of the NFL's most active free agency teams in the past 15 years under owner Dan Snyder, the Redskins were quiet the last two seasons because of a $36 million salary cap penalty imposed by the NFL for the way the contracts were restructured during the 2010 uncapped year.

Now they have money, but they have many needs. They still could use a pair of starting safeties, a linebacker to replace Fletcher, a defensive lineman and a right tackle.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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