The look certainly isn’t a good one for the Washington Redskins as free agency approaches: Their general manager isn’t involved in the process and, someday soon, the sides appear headed for a split. It’s led to heavy speculation over the past month, creating the appearance of turmoil.

The question, though, is this: How much does the general manager situation factor in the Redskins' ability to attract free agents? And the answer, based on nearly a dozen interviews with agents, front office executives and players, was an easy one: Not much. At least, not if the money is right, which all parties agreed is almost always the No. 1 reason.

"It’s still the Washington Redskins, it’s still the NFC East," said agent Brad Cicala, who had a client, Pierre Garcon, who spent the past five years here but who will sign with San Francisco. "It’s a good location."

The immediate issue, for now at least, isn’t whether the Redskins are headed in the right direction. Or who’s at fault.

Multiple sources say Scot McCloughan is no longer involved in the decisions; he did not attend the scouting combine and is instead at home. But he was the one who set the free agent board -- organizing their priorities. So his input will be felt in any decisions. The money, as in the past, will be handled by team president Bruce Allen and chief negotiator Eric Schaffer.

Among the players departing, while McCloughan was a big fan of Garcon there had been no contact with the player or his agent even before the issues arose.

That’s not to say what’s happening in the organization won’t have an impact. As one longtime agent, granted anonymity like most of the others to speak honestly, said, "Everything matters. The whole picture matters."

It would be naïve to think otherwise. An AFC executive said it could make a difference only "if the money is close."

One free agent echoed that sentiment, "It could scare some players off if they have other offers. But if the money is right or it’s the only option, guys will sign."

When a player signs here, he will know that Allen is in charge and Jay Gruden is the head coach. At this point, it’s hard to know who will be the general manager in a month or two. If there’s a perceived lack of direction, it doesn’t help, another free agent said.

"Stability counts," said one agent. "We have to work with these people. It’s a relationship game. But is it a deal-breaker? No. But those are factors."

If it’s a player’s second contract, the one player said it’s all about money. On the third they want money, but also a better situation -- perhaps a contender.

The coaching staff: It’s who players directly interact with on a daily basis. McCloughan was a presence and players spoke highly of him and his passion. But it’s the coaching staff that makes a difference, from the head coach to the position coach. For example, the reason quarterback Kirk Cousins wants to play in San Francisco if no long-term deal is struck here stems from the head coach, Kyle Shanahan.

"I want to pick a team where you like the coach and coordinator," said Joe Banner, who worked in front offices with Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta from 1995-2015. "How confident am I they’ll be here? Those are much more likely to come up and relevant to a potential free agent than anything that’s going on with Scot.

"Do you like the head coach and respect the coordinator and the scheme they run? Is your position coach someone you can work with. That’s what they’re focused on."

One agent, who has a client on the Redskins, said, "You’ve got a consistency on offense. So I don’t see the issue on my end. I can’t speak for everybody, but it doesn’t bother me. The GM doesn’t matter as much as what their plan is, what kind of defense and offense will they run and how does my client fit into the scheme. That’s put together by the coach."

Garcon, on his third contract, signed with two-win San Francisco -- but the money mattered, as did knowing Shanahan from their two seasons together with the Redskins.

The location: Playing in Washington -- or at least the surrounding area -- is a plus. As Cicala said, the Redskins still carry some cache because of their past, though they last won a Super Bowl title after the 1991 season and haven’t won a playoff game since 2005.

One player, a free agent multiple times, said, "Money and location. Taxes, fun city to live in or raise a family, opportunities to make money outside of football."

"Part of it is, where will you be happy?" Banner said. "Are you geographically happy?"

"The location is bigger than you think," another agent said. "Weather is big. Huge. Guys don’t want to play in the cold, man, unless they have to. Coaches are big, too."

The quarterback: For a receiver, this naturally matters. Some agents in the past have said they won’t send their receiving clients to a team without a good quarterback; it impacts their ability to put up good numbers. And, then get paid more in the future.

On the other side of the ball, one player said it mattered because it impacts the ability to win. Not all think that way, one agent said, because of the money factor. But it’s a bigger deal than who serves as general manager.

"The question is, will Kirk Cousins be the quarterback for the next five years," Banner said. "If my guy signs a five-year deal, that’s more likely to come up depending on the position the player plays than anything about the GM situation."