Washington Football Team and Brandon Scherff are not expected to reach an agreement on a long-term deal ahead of Thursday’s NFL deadline, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Thus, the All-Pro right guard will play on the franchise tag for the second consecutive season.
Scherff has already signed his franchise tag tender guaranteeing him $18.036 million during the 2021 season. Last season, he played on a $15.03 million franchise tag. He then earned first-team All-Pro honors, appearing in 13 games for a Washington team that won the NFC East division title with a 7-9 record.
With no agreement on a long-term deal ahead of the July 15 deadline, Washington and Scherff cannot have contract negotiations until after the season. Coupled with his fifth-year option in 2019, Scherff has earned $45.6 million over three seasons.
Washington can franchise tag him a third and final year. However, it would require a 144% pay raise over his 2021 salary. That puts the tag at nearly $26 million. That’s a price Washington is unlikely to pay for a guard, essentially signaling Scherff is headed for free agency at the end of the season.
The team is familiar with franchise tag squabbles. Washington tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2016 and 2017 before ultimately letting him walk in free agency in 2018. It appears Washington is set to do the same with Brandon Scherff
