The Sports Xchange

ASHBURN, Va. — Scot McCloughan is no Vinny Cerrato. In fact, during his first three-plus months as Washington’s front-office boss, McCloughan hasn’t even been a Bruce Allen.

In contrast to such showy Cerrato signings like defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and safety Adam Archuleta or such flashy Allen moves as the trade for quarterback Donovan McNabb or the signing of receiver DeSean Jackson, the Redskins have made quieter but strategic moves during McCloughan’s first offseason as their general manager.

With the secondary having been Washington’s weak link for a while, McCloughan signed cornerback Chris Culliver and safeties Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson. The latter pair had been drafted by San Francisco and Seattle, respectively, when McCloughan was working for those franchises while Culliver is also a former 49er.

And after signing end Ricky Jean Francois in February, once McCloughan deemed holdover defensive linemen Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield, too banged up to be major contributors at 31, he released them and signed the younger and healthier Stephen Paea and Terrance Knighton.

Culliver, Goldson, Johnson, Paea and Knighton could all well start for the Redskins this fall, providing nearly half of the regulars in a revamped defense.

McCloughan re-signed three players at reasonable prices: quarterback Colt McCoy, who played well in limited duty in 2014 and is a favorite of coach Jay Gruden; backup tight end Niles Paul, who’s coming off his best season; and reserve cornerback Justin Rogers, a late-season addition. The only offensive addition so far is running back Michael Hill, who has only nine career carries.

Washington’s free-agent losses other than oft-injured, expensive, three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (Tennessee) weren’t major. Third-down back Roy Helu chose Oakland for the chance to start he wouldn’t get behind Redskins standout Alfred Morris. Oft-injured receiver Leonard Hankerson rejoined former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta. Disappointing cornerback E.J. Biggers, who started seven games the past two years, signed with Philadelphia. Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins, who had just two sacks in 44 career games, signed with Chicago.

Helu started just five games for Washington, none since his rookie season of 2011. Hankerson started just 14 and didn’t catch a pass last year. Orakpo was one of the Redskins’ top players, but he missed 24 of 48 games the last three years, including the final 14 of their 2012 NFC East championship season, and managed just half a sack in seven games in 2014.

None of the Redskins’ remaining unrestricted free agents, soon-to-be 36-year-old receiver Santana Moss, undisciplined safety Brandon Meriweather, oft-injured backup nose tackle Chris Neild and benched right tackle Tyler Polumbus figure to return.

Since McCloughan hasn’t addressed the offensive line where right tackles Tom Compton and Moragn Moses, a 2014 rookie, are unproven and veteran guards Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao were disappointing nor added an outside pass rusher to replace Orakpo, look for those to be the prime areas of focus for Washington in the upcoming draft, presumably with the fifth and 38th overall selections.

BEST FIT: T Brandon Scherff, Iowa

Most draft experts have a pass rusher such as Clemson’s Vic Beasley, Florida’s Dante Fowler or Missouri’s Shane Ray going to Washington fifth overall. However, the Redskins drafted 2013 sacks leader Trent Murphy with its top choice (second round) in 2014 and new general manager Scot McCloughan has yet to add a quality offensive player for coach Jay Gruden’s preferred side of the ball where the powerful 6-foot-5, 319-pound Scherff could fill the void at right tackle but also has the potential to start at guard.

TEAM NEEDS

1. Offensive line: The Redskins allowed a boatload of sacks the last two years. Left tackle Trent Williams is the only sure thing among the veteran-laden group although center Kory Lichtensteiger is another likely keeper as new line coach Bill Callahan tries to bulk up his unit. Veteran guards Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao didn’t play well in 2014 while 2012 draft pick Josh LeRibeus has done little and 2014 selection Spencer Long is untested. Washington re-signed right tackle Tom Compton, a starter for the second half of last season, before the potential restricted free agent could test the market.

2. Pass rusher: Trent Murphy led the nation with 15 in sacks in 2013, but the 2014 second-round draft choice had just 2.5 while starting the final nine games of his rookie year after Brian Orakpo was injured. So the Redskins are looking to add another guy to get after the quarterback, especially with sacks leader Ryan Kerrigan due to be a free agent in 2016.

3. Wide receiver: Andre Roberts had a disappointing Redskins debut with just 36 catches as the No. 3 receiver and lackluster production on returns. Washington has an unsettled quarterback situation and could still use help at safety despite adding Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson, but coach Jay Gruden would love another productive receiver to play with DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.