Heading into free agency and the NFL draft, the Redskins’ roster has plenty of room for improvement, with depth and upgrades needed along the defensive line and in the secondary, in particular.

While wide receiver isn’t a particularly glaring need, anchored by the speedy DeSean Jackson and durable Pierre Garcon (assuming both are brought back, whether under their existing contracts or more “cap-friendly” renegotiated deals), General Manager Scot McCloughan could create some cap space for his overall initiative to improve the roster by culling the unit. Based on production, sixth-year NFL veteran Andre Roberts is a likely place to start.

Signed to a four-year, $16 million deal prior to the 2014 season, Roberts hasn’t had the impact the Redskins had hoped in his two years with the team. Then again, he stepped into a different role than the one he’d signed on for when the Redskins courted him as a free agent.

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Signed to be the team’s No. 2 wide receiver, Roberts was bumped to No. 3 when the team jumped at the chance to acquire Jackson after his surprise release by the Philadelphia Eagles. Roberts caught 36 passes for 453 yards and two touchdowns in 2014, while handling return duties on special teams.

Early in the 2015 season, he lost his job as the featured slot receiver to rookie Jamison Crowder, who’d taken over his punt-return duties earlier.

To his credit, Roberts didn’t complain or cause a distraction when benched in favor of Crowder. Despite his curtailed role, he was among the few bright spots in the Redskins’ 44-16 loss at Carolina in Week 11, running back a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.

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But he missed the last five games of the season with a right knee injury, ultimately was placed on the injured reserve list in late December and underwent offseason surgery in January.

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While backups Rashad Ross and Ryan Grant filled in, with Ross taking on kickoff returns, Roberts finished 2015 with his least productive season as a pro, hauling in 11 passes for 135 yards and zero receiving touchdowns in his nine games.

Roberts, who turned 28 on Jan. 9, has a cap hit of $5 million in 2016.

For McCloughan and the Redskins, bringing back both Jackson and Garcon is a costly proposition, but both bring unique ability to their positions. Roberts (5 feet 11, 187 pounds) never really seized his opportunities, either as a return specialist or wide receiver. Looking ahead, what the Redskins need most in their receiving corps is at least one big body. Garcon, at 6-0 and 216, is the biggest among them, not counting 6-foot-2, 237-pound tight end Jordan Reed.

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