The Redskins expect to franchise tag impending free agent guard Brandon Scherff, according to ESPN's Buccaneers reporter, Jenna Laine.
Not sure if this has been reported, but league sources have told me that they expect the Redskins to franchise tag Brandon Scherff and the Steelers to tag Bud Dupree.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 2, 2020
The deadline for NFL teams to designate franchise tags is March 12, which was moved back two days as the league and its players work on negotiating a new CBA.
The franchise tag for offensive linemen is expected to be in the realm of $15-$16 million for 2020. The move would prevent Scherff, 28, from becoming an unrestricted free agent and leave the Redskins with around $45.1-$46.1 million in cap space to play with in free agency.
Redskins coach Ron Rivera recently hinted to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington they were likely to use the franchise tag on Scherff if they couldn't work out a new long-term contract before the start of the new league year on March 18. Washington has approx. $61.1 million in salary cap space after taking significant cost-cutting measures in releasing Josh Norman, Jordan Reed and Paul Richardson.
Originally drafted as a tackle fifth overall in 2015, Scherff has anchored the interior of the Redskins line for the past five seasons. And while Scherff has struggled to remain healthy, missing 13 games over the past two seasons due to injury, and the cost for guards is exploding, the Redskins would still be wise to do whatever it takes to keep Scherff with all the uncertainty along their offensive line.
Washington remains in limbo with left tackle Trent Williams, who reportedly still wants a new contract or a trade after holding out for the majority of the 2019 season. Guard Ereck Flowers is also slated to become a free agent.
