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Redskins sign free agent KR Chad Morton to offer sheet


ASHBURN, Virginia (Ticker) - The Washington Redskins continued their overhaul Thursday, or tried at least.
Already armed with a new running back, kicker and five linemen, the Redskins signed restricted free agent kick-returner Chad Morton to an offer sheet.
While terms were not disclosed, ESPN reported the deal to be worth $8 million over five years, including a $2.5 million signing bonus.
The New York Jets have seven days to match the offer or accept a fifth-round draft pick as compensation. They had made Morton a qualifying offer of $605,000 for one year, according to ESPN.
Morton, 25, ranked second in the AFC last season, averaging 26 yards per return. He totaled a team-record 1,509 return yards and two touchdowns - both in a Week One win at Buffalo, including a 98-yarder in overtime.
The second player in NFL history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in overtime, Morton has averaged 24.4 yards per return in three seasons - two with the Jets and one with New Orleans.
Morton is the second restricted free agent this week to sign an offer sheet with the Redskins. On Monday, Green Bay safety Matt Bowen signed a reported four-year, $6 million deal.
Before they signed Morton to the offer sheet, the Redskins needed to acquire a compensatory fifth-round draft pick. They got one Monday from New England, but it did not meet NFL guidelines because it wasn't higher than Washington's own fifth-rounder.
On Thursday, the deal was amended, with the Redskins acquiring the highest of the Patriots' three fifth-round selections, which originally was Dallas'. In exchange, Washington and New England swapped 2003 third-round picks.
It is believed the Jets will match the offer.