Redskins, Brandon Scherff reportedly far apart in long-term contract talks

With a rookie quarterback in tow, it’s important that the Redskins keep their offensive linemen happy.

So far this offseason, the Washington Redskins haven’t exactly been effective in that arena.

The Redskins offensive line took its first big hit when veteran swing tackle Ty Nsekhe left via free agency to join the Buffalo Bills. The team bolstered its depth on the interior in the 2019 NFL Draft, but no tackle candidates were added, and the linemen that were added have questionable athletic upside.

Shortly after the NFL Draft, it was reported that stalwart blindside blocker Trent Williams desired a new contract, or else a trade would be demanded. No public progress has been made on that front, and now, there’s more uncertainty on the offensive line for the Redskins.

This uncertainty isn’t as urgent, but it’s just as impactful, if not more so, than the Trent Williams saga. Per 106.7 The Fan’s Erin Hawksworth, Washington has offered Brandon Scherff several long-term contract parameters, but the two sides are still ‘far apart ‘, as the report stated.

The Redskins picked up Scherff’s fifth-year option last offseason for this purpose: to lock the Pro Bowl guard down for another year, while simultaneously extending their own window to get a deal done. That said, the fact that the two sides aren’t close to agreement, in terms of Scherff’s value, is concerning.

Scherff has been one of the top guards in the NFL since his second season, and he’ll certainly get paid like it, barring a substantial regression in 2019. Scherff could command money in the range of $16 million annually, the same figure that Cowboys guard Zack Martin received this offseason, to become the highest paid guard in the league. NBC Sports Mid-Atlantic’s Ethan Cadeaux also referenced Andrew Norwell’s deal with Jacksonville last offseason ($13.3 million annually) as a potential template for a Scherff deal.

The Redskins could be waiting to commit to a higher price until they have some closure with the Trent Williams situation, or they could be waiting to see if Scherff returns to one-hundred percent on the field after tearing his pectoral muscle in 2018. Whatever the case, there is at least a modest lack of faith that Scherff is worth his financial stipulations, and that kind of gridlock is never good for any long-term discussions.

Of course, it’s still early, and midseason reports often fail to fully encapsulate the depth of contract negotiations. Stick with us here at Riggo’s Rag for any updates on the Redskins-Brandon Scherff negotiations, as we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.