Brandon Scherff became the second Washington player in five years to go through two franchise-tagged seasons, following Kirk Cousins. Like the former Washington starting quarterback, the team’s Pro Bowl guard appears headed elsewhere in free agency.
No significant movement between the Commanders and Scherff has taken place toward a long-term extension, John Keim of ESPN.com notes, adding the signs point to Scherff leaving soon. A third tag is not feasible for Washington, given that it would be a 44% markup from Scherff’s already-lofty $18MM salary last season.
Washington did try to lock down Scherff last year, however, with Keim adding the team made the veteran blocker an offer to become the league’s highest-paid guard. Scherff instead opted to play the 2021 season on the tag. Particulars of Washington’s proposal are not known, only that the deal would have pushed Scherff past Joe Thuney‘s $16MM-AAV guard pact. Thuney and Joel Bitonio are the NFL’s highest-paid guards, each earning $16MM on average. Scherff can expect to top that in free agency, with the salary cap set to return after its COVID-19-induced reduction.
When healthy, Scherff remains one of the NFL’s top guards. The former top-five pick has made the Pro Bowl in five of the past six seasons and earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2020. Of course, he has run into considerable injury trouble in recent years. The Iowa product has missed 23 games since the 2016 season, including five last year. An MCL sprain and a stay on the COVID list shelved Scherff in 2021.
This year’s guard market features some interesting talent. Although Scherff is the biggest name expected to be available, Laken Tomlinson, James Daniels, Mark Glowinski and Connor Williams are each on track for free agency. Scherff’s age (30) may impact the length of his deal, but he should be expected to finally cash in on a long-term accord after playing out his five-year rookie contract and being tagged twice.
Drafted as a tackle – but they made him a guard when he couldn’t cut it.
Better to adapt to something else and maybe be the highest paid at the position, rather than be stubborn and tough it out only to lose money and opportunity by being average/sucking
That’s not really true. He played tackle in college, but everyone knew he was much more likely to be a guard (but a REALLY good one) in the pros based on size. That wasn’t a failure to meet expectations.
Plus they already had Morgan Moses entrenched at RT and All-World Trent Williams at LT
Let him go.. dude is injury prone and not elite
So he turned down being the highest paid guard? CTE?
Not worth the money…end of story. And certainly not elite
I think a separation would probably be best for both parties. Scherff would be more motivated and useful with a contending team and the cap relief would provide Washington added options while rebuilding.
Plenty of cap room in Cincy … come help us protect Burrow before he’s permanently disabled.