WASHINGTON — The Redskins have been quiet early in the NFL free agency period. That is exactly what general manager Scot McCloughan said would happen.

So far Washington has simply re-signed its own players, including backup quarterback Colt McCoy, reserve defensive lineman Kedric Golston, inside linebacker Mason Foster and safety Duke Ihenacho, a restricted free agent.

RELATED: NFC East Free Agency Tracker

Sources confirm that defensive end Andre Branch will visit Redskins Park on Friday. Defensive end Chris Long has already been through. There are likely others that haven’t been reported yet.

But free agency is still a tool teams need to use to stay competitive. Even McCloughan admits that. NFL Network put together its comprehensive list of the top 99 free agents last month. Well — 33 of the top 50 have already signed with another team or are expected to soon.

The next 49? At least 21 of those players are off the board and three of them — Terrance Knighton, Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris – are Redskins players who will leave. Yes, there is a small chance Morris comes back. Another is Redskins outside linebacker Junior Galette, who the team is negotiating with anyway.

That leaves you with 25 players outside the organization in that bottom 50 — and only a handful of them make sense given Washington’s scheme and position needs. Branch didn’t make that NFL Network list so he’s not included, but he came on strong at the end of last season.

Branch (6-5, 265 pounds) started nine games, returned a fumble for a touchdown in a win over Indianapolis and had four sacks. He is also just 26, which is the age of free agents McCloughan likes to target: mid-20s players who could improve rapidly. Here is the full list of remaining players from NFL Network’s original list — 17 in the top 50 and 29 in the next tier for 46 total.

Top 50 Free Agents

S Eric Weddle, San Diego

The Redskins just parted ways with a former Pro Bowl free safety whose age/production didn’t warrant $8 million. Weddle is 31 and has long been a fine player for the Chargers. Washington desperately needs a safety. They could go back to Dashon Goldson if the market allows. But it’s hard to see them paying a premium for a player who won’t be effective long term.

OT Russell Okung, Seattle

The Redskins made the right call the first time when they chose Trent Williams over Okung in the 2010 draft. They don’t need a left tackle. Okung could move over to right tackle and that would be intriguing. But Washington still wants to see what it has in third-year pro Morgan Moses.

CB Prince Amukamara, NY Giants

Intriguing, in no small part because he’s killed the Redskins over the years. Turns 27 in June. Good size at 6-foot, 227 pounds. But you can also see a team wildly overpaying. Redskins could probably get better value at corner for cheaper.

S Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati

The Redskins, again, need a safety. As much depth as they can possibly amass. Nelson has been more of a playmaker in recent years than Goldson with 12 interceptions the last two seasons and 30 in his career. The problem? That career started in 2007. He’ll be 33 in September.

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Nope. Don’t need a quarterback. Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy are the guys for next year with Cousins hoping to sign a long-term deal.

DE/OLB Chris Long

Visited Redskins Park this week. So there’s interest. Not a traditional end in a 3-4 defense — too small at 6-foot-3, 268 pounds — but the Redskins play enough 4-3 it probably would be fine. Plus Long, 30, is more of a rotational player at this point in his career anyway.

DT Nick Fairley, LA Rams

An interior lineman who has the size to play at nose tackle (6-4, 308). He’s only 28, but Detroit soured on him for a reason and he was more of a rotational player with the Rams last season and surrounded by superior talent. Still, he could be a low-risk, high-reward play. He has that kind of talent.

RB Arian Foster, Houston

Hard to see a fit here. Foster will be 30 next season and missed all of last year with a torn Achilles. But if he’s cheap and on a one-year deal? He did average 4.8 yards per carry in 2014 and had 13 touchdowns (eight rushing, five receiving).

DE Robert Ayers, NY Giants

A defensive end who was limited to 12 games each of the past two seasons. Still managed 9.5 sacks in 2015 so he can be an impact player. But there are probably cheaper solutions and Ayers doesn’t really fit as a “depth” pass rusher. He’ll get good money on the open market even at 30.

OT Andre Smith, Cincinnati

The Redskins aren’t in the market for veteran tackles.

OT Kelvin Beachum, Pittsburgh

Again, a starting tackle isn’t a need. Maybe a year from now it will be if Moses fails to pan out. But in that case they’d like to have a younger player come up through the system. Beachum also tore his ACL last season.

S Walter Thurmond, Philadelphia

The Robin to Malcolm Jenkins’ Batman last season with the Eagles, who might have had the league’s best safety tandem. Thurmond was primarily the strong safety so that might change the plan to go with DeAngelo Hall at that spot. But he had three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He turns 29 in August.

ILB Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis

An intriguing option because he can play in the middle and was one of the Colts’ top tacklers each of the last two seasons. But he’s been linked to the Falcons.

OT Donald Penn, Oakland

If the Redskins don’t need a top-level tackle like Okung then they definitely don’t need a solid, but lower-tier player like Penn.

CB Casey Hayward, Green Bay

Versatile cornerback who can play the slot or outside. That’s good given the Redskins should have Chris Culliver (torn ACL) available at some point and need to be able to move their corners into different roles. Depth is the key word here so a solid player who can be used in a variety of ways is paramount.

DE Aldon Smith, Oakland

So much off the field baggage. If the Redskins need to upgrade the pass rush that much, they can figure something out with Junior Galette. He’s had his own issues, but…at least the organization vetted him last summer and he’s been in their building.

NT B.J. Raji, Green Bay

Fits a need, but much like Terrance Knighton, their own free agent, he’s an older nose tackle at 29. If the Redskins decided to walk away from Knighton it’s unclear why they’d be all in on Raji — though he has historically been a better player.

Next 50

DE Greg Hardy, Dallas

Not worth the headache — as Dallas found out last year. Again, there are other ways to upgrade the pass rush without rolling the dice.

WR Anquan Boldin, San Francisco

Redskins don’t need another veteran receiver. They need depth. That’s not where Boldin is at this point in his career.

NT Terrance Knighton, Washington

Washington has already decided to let Pot Roast go. They didn’t see enough in his one year in Washington to keep him, and they want to get younger on the defensive line anyway.

S Rashad Johnson, Arizona

He’s not a big man (5-11, 204) and he certainly wouldn’t be a long-term fit. But at 30, Johnson could still have a few good years left. The Cardinals use their defensive backs a lot so it’s possible he returns there. He’s durable and had five interceptions last year.

RB Alfred Morris, Washington

The Redskins haven’t completely closed the door on Morris. He might make some sense if the market tanks. So far it’s been robust for the top running backs. And that’s the problem. Morris isn’t in that class and his numbers have declined three years in a row. He is the ultimate professional, however.

OG Evan Mathis, Denver

The Redskins have an expensive guard on the roster already in Shawn Lauvao. They’re set at right guard (Brandon Scherff). They have young prospects at left guard. As good as Mathis has been, this just wouldn’t make sense.

WR Mike Wallace, Minnesota

Two down years in Miami and, while the Vikings liked his leadership and that he accepted his role last year, they decided to cut him anyway. Hard pass.

OG Jahri Evans, New Orleans

Once a premier guard, he’s no longer at that level and even if he was that’s not a position where the Redskins want to spend money right now. Nor should they.

OLB Mike Neal, Green Bay

Can fit in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme and the Redskins are more of a hybrid team anyway. Wouldn’t cost a lot and is solid in the run game with consistent, if limited, pass rush production (18 sacks over the last four years). Could be insurance if the Galette negotiations go south.

OLB Junior Galette, Washington

The Redskins would like him back. They have the right of first refusal on whatever contract he signs. But Galette has already fired his agent. He wants what he wants — a one-year deal where he can wreck house opposite Ryan Kerrigan and cash in next offseason. Can Washington find a middle ground?

WR Percy Harvin, Buffalo

Maybe the least Scot McCloughan player ever. Harvin has his place and he’s certainly skilled. But the Redskins don’t need what he brings to the table.

DE Dwight Freeney, Arizona

Few better pass rushers in their day. Freeney even had a resurgence with the Cardinals last season with eight sacks. But at 36, he just isn’t a play for the Redskins.

ILB Stephen Tulloch, Detroit

He was a mainstay with the Lions who started every game for them in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015. A tackling machine with good instincts, but he’s 31 now and tore his ACL in 2014 celebrating a sack. That aside, he really is considered a good leader. A possible short-term solution at inside linebacker.

DE Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore

Classic rush linebacker is likely leaving Baltimore. A big man at 6-2, 272 pounds, he had two sacks in 2015 so it’s not like you’re getting incredible value. But he’s 26 and McCloughan tends to target players in that age range he thinks can get better — or could be employed more efficiently by the coaching staff.

RB LeGarrette Blount, New England

The top running backs got paid this week. Does Blount fit with that group? Probably not. But he did have 703 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 12 games so who knows? A bruiser at 6-foot, 250 pounds, he’s 29 so you wouldn’t do a long-term deal, but he might be cheap enough to fit as a co-option with Matt Jones.

CB Leon Hall, Cincinnati

A free agent for the first time, it’s tough to judge the market for Hall. He’s 31 and has twice torn his Achilles tendon. Remained one of the better nickel corners in the league, so the Redskins could be interested if they can’t strike a deal with Will Blackmon. This might be a case of a player looking for too much money based on past production. But Hall has been a very good player for a long time.

CB Patrick Robinson, San Diego

Fell out of favor in New Orleans and used a year with the Chargers to re-establish his value. He had an interception and a forced fumble. Robinson turns 29 in September and might be a reasonable depth option at limited cost.

DT Akiem Hicks, New England

Again, he fits the profile. A big man at 6-foot-5, 324 pounds who could play inside. The Redskins have a need there. He also had three sacks there so he has more of a pass rush presence than Knighton provided. And at 26 you could envision him being around for a while. But he’s generating a lot of interest, including from the Patriots, who know him best, and the Bears, whom he visits on Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

C Stefen Wisniewski, Jacksonville

Washington certainly wants to upgrade at center. But the Redskins would rather do that with youth (draft) or in-house (Spencer Long) than sign a veteran to replace Kory Lichtensteiger. They can save $3.5 million on the salary cap by cutting Lichtensteiger. But if there’s one guy you’d break the bank for at that position it’s Wisniewski, a 6-3, 305-pounder who has started 77 games and been a standout with Oakland for four years and Jacksonville last season. He only hit the open market in 2015 because teams were worried about a torn labrum.

CB Nolan Carroll, Philadelphia

Former Maryland star held up well with Eagles last year before a season-ending injury (broken ankle) in November. He had started 11 games at the time. Again, a decent option if you’re looking for depth to go with Bashaud Breeland, Chris Culliver (if healthy), Quinton Dunbar and possibly Blackmon, who the Redskins would like to re-sign.

ILB Zach Brown, Tennessee

A pure coverage linebacker — he had two interceptions last year — but one with an injury history (torn pectoral) who lost his job as middle linebacker in the middle of last season. Brown is also a sure tackler. And he’s only 26. Hey – he’s even a local (Wilde Lake High/Columbia, Md.) and had 9.5 sacks his first two seasons in the NFL. A buy-low candidate at a spot where the Redskins need depth.

CB Jerraud Powers, Arizona

A valuable corner for the Cardinals, though at 5-foot-10, 187 pounds, he doesn’t have elite size for the position and that’s usually an issue for McCloughan. But he is a playmaker with two fumble recoveries, an interception and a sack last year. He had three interceptions in 2014, and his nine pass breakups would’ve ranked second on the Redskins behind Breeland’s 16. Powers turns 29 in July so he should still have some productive years left. If he doesn’t have to start he could be a solid, cheap pickup.

LB James Laurinaitis, LA Rams

A player whose age (30) and production made him a target. Laurinaitis is a valued leader, durable, plays through pain and is smart. But there’s no reason to expect Washington to break the bank on a declining player at this position. He’s definitely a guy you’d want on your team in 2016, but probably not much beyond. Someone else will give him a deal.

WR Rueben Randle, NY Giants

Just no reason to do this. Randle isn’t playing above DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon and his production opposite Odell Beckham, Jr. will probably earn him more money than he deserves.

TE Zach Miller, Chicago

Another player who had a breakthrough season in 2015, but Miller is still nowhere near the offensive force Jordan Reed is. At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, he should be a decent blocker, too. But this is not a need or a fit.

DE Jarvis Jenkins, Chicago

No. The Redskins have seen this movie before. They drafted Jenkins and then scratched their heads as he blew up early for the Bears. But by the end of the year he’d faded some. Not a move they really regret.

SS David Bruton, Denver

A little like Jeron Johnson last year — a special-teams star who had just enough chances to make plays on the field that he’s earned himself some money. Could be worth a gamble as a depth player depending on how high the market goes. His year ended with a leg injury, but he has far more experience than Johnson, who was a key reserve on some great Seattle defenses. Bruton had two interceptions and two forced fumbles last year.

RB Chris Johnson, Arizona

Once a premier back. He showed some life last year with the Cardinals, but a knee injury ended his season after 11 games and rookie David Johnson took over and thrived. Were his 814 yards in nine games a fluke? A product of the system? You could probably find out for cheap, but his flashy running style isn’t necessarily what the Redskins are looking for.

QB Robert Griffin III, Washington

Redskins made the decision months ago that Griffin wasn’t coming back. Where he lands? That makes for a fascinating story.

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