1st-round pick Brian Orakpo ends 1-day holdout, gets 5-year, $20 million deal with Redskins

Redskins 1st-rounder Orakpo gets 5-yr, 20M deal

ASHBURN, Va. — A day late and a year older, first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo went to work for the Washington Redskins.

The No. 13 overall selection from Texas was on the field for practice Friday morning after signing a five-year, $20 million contract that includes $12.1 million guaranteed. The deal ended a one-day holdout — Orakpo was the only player absent when training camp opened Thursday — and put the 6-foot-4, 260-pound linebacker on the field in time for his 23rd birthday.

“Got the deal done. My pocket’s a little bigger. On your birthday, it’s always a good thing,” Orakpo said.

Orakpo took part in only a few drills during the morning practice, but was expected to be a full participant in the afternoon session.

Orakpo was primarily a defensive end at Texas, where he had 11 sacks last season. The Redskins envision him as their starting strongside linebacker who can play end in pass-rushing situations.

First-round picks have been slow in signing across the NFL this year. Even so, Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache was not happy when Orakpo was a no-show for the two practices on the first day — especially considering the rookie will be learning a new position.

“He’s not getting better,” Blache said Thursday. “We are not getting better as a team. When a guy holds out — doesn’t help him, doesn’t help the football team. The only person it benefits is the agent, so he can recruit people next year.”