Redskins tag Brandon Scherff
March 14, 2020
by Steve Thomas
UPDATED: The Redskins issued a revised press release indicating that the team has used the non-exclusive tag, not the exclusive tag, on Scherff.
The non-exclusive tag allows Scherff’s camp to negotiate with other teams, but if an agreement between Scherff and another team is reached, the Redskins have the right to match the offer, or let him go to the other team in exchange for two first round picks as compensation.
Scherff’s tender offer is defined slightly differently under the non-exclusive tag. The CBA provides that the tender amount will be the greater of (A) the average of the five largest prior year salaries for players at the position at which the franchise player participated in the most plays during the prior league year, or (B) 120 percent of his prior year salary; however, in Scherff’s case, the number for both types of franchise tags appears to be $16,102,000.
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The Washington Redskins announced today that they have placed the exclusive franchise tag on star right guard Brandon Scherff. The move comes less than 48 hours prior to the opening of the “legal tampering period” on Monday, March 16, and the official start of the league year on March 18. The use of the exclusive tag prohibits Scherff from negotiating with any other team except the Redskins.
Word has leaked for weeks that the Redskins have been discussing a long term deal with Scherff, but clearly a contract that has not materialized. Today’s move ensures that Scherff will either play for the Redskins in the 2020 season, or he won’t play at all. Thusfar, there has been no indication that Scherff intends to hold out, but he has to sign the franchise tag tender in order to be obligated to play.
The both the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement and the proposed new CBA currently being voted on by the players provide that the value of the exclusive franchise tag is the greater of (A) the average of the five largest salaries in player contracts for that league year as of the end of the restricted free-agent signing period that league year, by position group, or (B) the amount of the required non-exclusive tag. The franchise tag tender is fully guaranteed. The website Over the Cap estimates that the franchise tag for offensive lineman this coming season is $16,102,000, which will be the size of Scherff’s cap hit for 2020 if he plays on the tag.
Scherff was drafted by the Redskins out of Iowa with the fifth overall pick in round 1 of the 2015 draft. Since that time, he has played in and started 65 of 80 regular season games, having missed 8 games in 2018 and 5 in 2019. Scherff earned Pro Bowl honors in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and is considered one of the top guards in the NFL. Prior to the Redskins use of the franchise tag, he was far and away the top guard in the free agent market.
The Hog Sty estimated his contractual value during the 2019 offseason to be 6 years / $88M or 5 years / $72M (read that column by clicking here), although his value may be higher now by virtue of the passing of time.
Stay with The Hog Sty for more information on Scherff’s contractual status as it becomes available.