No Surprise: Redskins Tag Brandon Scherff

To no one’s surprise, on Saturday, the Washington Redskins placed the non-exclusive franchise tag (one year, $15-$16 million if he signs it) on guard Brandon Scherff, who became an unrestricted free agent this year when his four-year, $21 million (guaranteed) contract expired.

Because the team used the nonexclusive tag option, Scherff can consider other teams’ offers. The Redskins can match those offers but if they choose not to, the team that gets the former Hawkeye must hand over two first-round draft picks.

Scherff was himself the fifth overall pick in 2015 and has graded very well during his tenure in the league. Pro Football Focus, for instance, gave him an overall grade of 75.0 in 2019 (72.0 in pass blocking, 76.3 run blocking). His highest grade last year was 92.3 against the Minnesota Vikings and in his career, he has never been marked below 70.0. He was No. 2 in the NFL in penalties with just nine.

Even so, two first-round draft picks are a lot of NFL currency and this makes an offer somewhat unlikely. It’s highly probable that the former PFWA All-Rookie awardee will wear Burgundy and gold in 2020.

Again, this tag is no surprise. Redskins new Head Coach Ron Rivera said early-on that keeping Scherff on the roster was a priority. But the Redskins and the guard have not yet come to a long-term deal, in part, because the league is still negotiating the new CBA with the NFLPA. Since left tackle Trent Williams will most certainly be gone, keeping a talented veteran protecting Dwayne Haskins (or whatever QB is running the offense in 2020) is imperative.

Last season, the three-time Pro Bowler (2016, 2017 and 2019) started 11 games while giving up just one-and-a-half sacks. He has appeared in 65 regular-season games with 65 starts since entering the NFL.

Scherff, 28, played collegiately at Iowa from 2011-14, where he received the Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman. He also earned unanimous consensus All-American honors and was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive season. He also won the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award in the Big Ten Conference.