The Washington Redskins have used their franchise tag on LB Brian Orakpo today. All teams have until 4:00 PM est to use their franchise tag. Obviously, the Steelers have no intention in franchising anyone this year, but the Redskins franchise tag is relevant to them.

The franchise tag for linebackers is $11.455 Mil. Both sides have until July 15th to work on a new contract. If they can’t reach a deal, then the tagged player will play for a one year contract worth the franchise designation. Brian Orakpo is the top free agent linebacker this year. By using the franchise tag on him, the Redskins have taken him off the market, making Jason Worilds arguably the top free agent linebacker.

I’ve never viewed the Steelers outside linebacker contract situation as being “either/or”. Releasing Woodley this year has never made much sense from a cap standpoint, and the team can’t (won’t) afford to get in a bidding war for Jason Worilds. If they let him play the free agent market, it seems very likely that he’ll be starting for a different team next year.  The Tennessee Titans seem like a very likely landing spot to me. Ray Horton is their new defensive coordinator and they have over $13 Mil in cap space.

Worilds, who turned 26 today, has suggested that he doesn’t want to return unless he can start and that doesn’t seem possible.