Washington Football Team: Five “don’ts” in 2021 free agency

No. 1 – DON’T be afraid to be flexible

There’s a sense of security that comes with the amount of financial assets that the Washington Football Team has. But that asset volume must be used responsibly, and with a long-term focus in mind. At the end of the day, Washington could not only maximize those financial assets, but also gain draft assets down the road.

Ultimately, it’s important to be flexible. The Washington Football Team showed the capacity to do so last year. Even with a decent amount of cap space, they didn’t force spend when their first plans didn’t work out. Washington tried to break the bank for Amari Cooper, but when he didn’t sign with them, they decided instead to be patient and pursue bargains across the board. Now, they have one of the highest allowances in the league, and they’re primed to acquire talent.

Just as Washington should be flexible with their money, they also shouldn’t hesitate to be flexible with their in-house assets, namely Brandon Scherff. Washington recently applied the franchise tag to Scherff for the second straight year. He’s now due to get $18 million, and the odds of him signing a long-term deal are decreasing. If he plays the 2021 season on the tag, he’s very likely to hit free agency in 2022.

There was a mutual desire by Scherff and Washington to get a deal done, but if it’s not in the cards, Washington shouldn’t cling to the 2020 All-Pro. If he’s only going to be here for one more season — a season in which Washington is unlikely to compete for a Super Bowl without a legitimate quarterback — they should entertain a tag-and-trade. That way, they can get his money off the books to spend more, and they can add more draft resources for the next vital stages of the rebuilding process.

It’s never optimal for a team to confine itself to one path when that path looks less appealing down the road. The Washington Football Team should operate with the full roadmap in mind, even if that means making some bold, unpredictable decisions to maintain maximum long-term value. The flexible are always the ones who ultimately win free agency. It’s not about spending the most money. It’s about spending the best money.

Let’s see if the Washington Football Team can make it two years in a row.