Redskins Will Protect Marshall

In perhaps the easiest decision of what promises to be a chaotic off-season, the Washington Redskins likely will designate Pro Bowl linebacker Wilber Marshall their “franchise player” as some 300 NFL veterans prepare to become unrestricted free agents next week.

In addition, tackle Jim Lachey is expected to be designated one of the team’s other two protected players even though he’s under contract for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, sources said.

The Redskins may not name a second protected player even though 10 starters besides Marshall can be unrestricted free agents on March 1. Wide receiver Gary Clark is believed to be the only one of the 10 under consideration for the second slot because those players must be offered the average of the top 10 salaries at their positions -- bigger raises than team officials are prepared to pay several of the players. If the second slot is used, it likely would go to a young players not yet eligible for free agency.

Under the proposed new labor agreement between NFL players and owners, unsigned players with at least five years of experience become unrestricted free agents on March 1. However, teams in effect can protect three of their players by naming one a franchise player and two right-of-first-refusal players.

A team will retain the rights to its franchise player, but must offer him the average salary of the top five players at his position. Barring a last-second change of heart, sources said the Redskins will announce on Thursday that they’ve retained Marshall’s rights by naming him their franchise player, thereby agreeing to offer him at least the average salary of the top five players at his position -- about $1.635 million.

Since Marshall made $1.3 million last season, that would represent only a modest raise, and he likely intends to ask for more than that anyway.

The two players designated for right-of-first refusal slots must be offered the average of the top 10 players at their position. However, in both cases, players can seek salaries higher than the average of the top five or top 10 at their positions.

By declining to make free safety Brad Edwards, cornerback Martin Mayhew and others a right-of-first-refusal player, the Redskins are sending a message that they hope salaries won’t go through the roof. Tabbing any of them for first refusal would guarantee that player a huge raise, and while all of them will get big increases, they may have to test the market to get what they want.

For instance, Edwards made $350,000 last season. He figures to get a raise, but naming him a right-of-first-refusal player means the Redskins would have to offer him $1 million a season. Similarly, defensive tackle Tim Johnson made $425,000. He’ll also get a big raise, but it may not be $1.25 million, which is the average of the 10 highest-paid defensive tackles last season.

Mayhew made $325,000 last season, but the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks made an average of $1.25 million.

Lachey is another matter. He’s already the highest-paid player at his position with a salary of $1.35 million next season. The average of the highest-paid linemen is $1.1 million.

Clark appears to be the only unsigned veteran under consideration for one of the designations, and he could be bypassed if team officials become convinced they’re in no danger of losing him when the marketplace opens next week.

Five of their other best players -- wide receiver Ricky Sanders, guard Mark Schlereth and center-guard Raleigh McKenzie and perhaps kick returner-running back Brian Mitchell -- are among those being discussed for the right-of-first-refusal spots.

The Redskins are wrestling with these decisions as the NFL opens its first true free agent marketplace on Monday. Almost everyone, from players to owners to agents, is uncertain how free agency will affect salaries, and for that reason virtually no business has been done since the Super Bowl.

Redskins General Manager Charley Casserly began this offseason with about two dozen unsigned veterans -- including 11 starters -- and all of them remain unsigned. He said Monday he has been in contact with the agents for all of his top unsigned players, but that nothing approaching serious negotiations have taken place.