The Washington Redskins placed the franchise tag on Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Scherff, Saturday. The two sides were unable to agree to a long-term deal, leading to the expected tag. However, unlike Kirk Cousins in years before, the Redskins placed a non-exclusive tag, leaving them with options ahead of the July 15 deadline.
Brandon Scherff is free to Negotiate with other teams
For starters, Scherff is free to negotiate with other NFL clubs during the free agency period unlike on an exclusive tag that would have only permitted the Redskins to talk contract with him. If he strikes a deal with another team, he will sign an offer sheet. The Redskins will be given the right to match the offer sheet or allow Scherff to leave for that team.
Washington will then be entitled to two first-round picks (that can be negotiated) if it chooses not to match the offer sheet.
The Redskins want Scherff in their plans for 2020 with hopes of working out a long-term deal. A non-exclusive tag is common for non-quarterback position.
Both sides seem far from a long-term deal
Scherff will earn a guaranteed $16.1 million for 2020 if he signs the tag without a long-term deal in place, according to Over the Cap. Under the old Redskins’ regime, Scherff was reportedly offered a deal that would have paid him an average of $13 million per year. That’s not too far off what he made in his final year of his rookie contract in 2019. It also was less than average pay of Andrew Norwell and Zack Martin.
It’s unclear if the revamped front office of the Redskins made any additional offers.
We’ve seen in the past with Cousins, once a franchise tag was placed, there’s a good chance a long-term deal is unreachable for both sides. If Scherff’s pay jumps from roughly $12.5 million to $16 million, a long-term deal would presumably be above the $13 million per year Washington previously offered.
Scherff is a three-time Pro Bowler. He started 48 of 50 games in his first three seasons. However, injuries have forced him to miss 13 games over the past two seasons.
Could his health struggles be a reason for the Redskins’ not meeting his contract demands?
Redskins protect themselves if a long-term deal is unreachable
Nonetheless, by placing the tag the Redskins have made it less enticing for other teams to meet Brandon Scherff contract demands and fork over a pair of highly valued draft picks. That is unless a team is desperate for an interior lineman.
If nothing else, the Redskins will get a parameter of what Scherff could earn on the open market, if a team is willing to put out an offer sheet and risk losing a combination of top draft picks. The Redskins protect themselves, that in event someone wants to throw out a number they’re unwilling to go, Washington will get a premium return for their loss.
Washington wants to bring back Scherff and left guard Ereck Flowers, who they’ve reportedly begun contract negotiations with. With both back in the interior and Morgan Moses and Chase Roullier at right tackle and center, the Redskins can shift focus on resolving the Trent Williams’ situation and finding a suitable replacement at left tackle.
