Redskins, Brandon Scherff reportedly working on a long-term extension

The Washington Redskins and Brandon Scherff are reportedly working on a long-term extension as the deadline for the franchise tag decision draws nearer.

Ahead of 2020 NFL free agency, it always seemed likely that the Washington Redskins were going to retain right guard Brandon Scherff. The question was more about how they would do it.

First, it was reportedly expected that the team was going to slap him with the franchise tag before the tag deadline passes on March 12. But as that draws nearer, there appears to be some momentum on both sides to get a long-term deal done.

As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport detailed on Twitter, the Redskins are “working to lock up” Scherff much like the Cardinals did with D.J. Humphries ahead of free agency.

This makes sense for the Redskins. Franchise tagging Scherff would’ve certainly been a good option considering that he has dealt with injuries the past few seasons and a one-year deal would’ve given him a chance to prove that he can stay healthy in 2020.

However, the tag value of roughly $16 million would make Scherff the highest-paid guard in the league in terms of average annual value. So trying to extend him out and lower that number could make more sense for Washington.

An extension does come with risks, especially ones related to Scherff’s health. But if he can stay on the field for all 16 games, he should play at a high level. He is, after all, one of the best guards in the league when he can stay healthy. He just hasn’t been able to do that often enough lately to inspire too much confidence.

One positive about extending Scherff now is that the squad may actually have a chance to put low guarantees on the contract. That’s not to say that Scherff will get no guaranteed money, but the team could attempt to stack those guarantees in early seasons of the deal. And if he continues to struggle with health, they could have an out in the contract that lets them get rid of him before he becomes a monetary liability for the team. But if he succeeds, he’ll be well worth whatever they pay and he’ll be motivated to reach specific incentives available in his contract.

It will be interesting to see what an extension for Scherff could look like. It certainly seems possible that he will earn close to the $14 million AAV deals that Zack Martin and Brandon Brooks recently signed, but he could come in a hair below them if he takes a contract for four to five years. And he probably won’t see the 40-plus percent guaranteed that both of those players had on their deals.

If the ‘Skins can’t work out an extension for Scherff, slapping him with the tag isn’t a bad alternative. But the fact that the team is working toward keeping him is a good sign as they look to strengthen their offensive ahead of Dwayne Haskins‘ second season.