Redskins Have Begun Extension Talks With G Brandon Scherff, Franchise Tag Also In Play

Redskins HC Ron Rivera said Thursday the Redskins have begun contract talks with G Brandon Scherff and the lineman is in their plans for 2020, per JP Finlay.

Finlay adds it seems like the franchise tag is an option to keep Scherff if they can’t agree to a deal in the next few weeks. 

ESPN’s John Keim says a source tells him the Redskins will “100 percent” use the franchise tag on Scherff if they’re not able to sign him to a long-term deal before the tag deadline. 

Washington was reportedly offering Scherff a deal worth more than $13 million a year before the start of the 2019 season, so that could be the starting point for negotiations now. 

Scherff, 28, is a former No. 5 overall pick by the Redskins out of Iowa in the 2015 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $21.215 million fully guaranteed rookie contract and is playing out the fifth-year option on that deal.

The Redskins picked up Scherff’s option in 2018 and paid him $12,525,000 for the 2019 season.

In 2019, Scherff started 11 games for the Redskins before landing on injured reserve. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No. 10 guard out of 80 qualifying players. 

We’ll have more on Scherff as the news is available.