Jaguars seen as logical destination for G Brandon Scherff in free agency

If you followed the Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl run, you attested their offensive line struggles to protect Joe Burrow. The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t let the same happen to Trevor Lawrence and must keep him out of harm’s way.

Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus recently drew up a 2022 free agency preview in which he discusses potential cap casualties, needs, and plans of action for all 32 NFL teams. Treash says the Jaguars must prioritize getting Trevor Lawrence help, especially at wide receiver. He thinks Jacksonville should pursue someone like Chris Goodwin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. On the other hand, Treash believes their front office should target Washington Commander offensive guard Brandon Scherff this offseason.

"Guard Brandon Scherff — who spent a few years with current Jacksonville offensive line coach Paul Rauscher in Washington — is a potential name to watch if he hits the open market. Scherff’s lowest-graded season came in 2018, when he earned a 72.5 PFF grade before suffering a season-ending injury in the middle of the campaign. And that still ranked 15th at the position. Needless to say, he’d be a major addition in the trenches."

A first-round pick by the Washington Commanders in 2015, Scherff has made 89 starts over the last seven years. He’s also earned five Pro Bowl nods and was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2020. He’s scheduled to become a free agent after playing last season on the franchise tag, the second of his career. Spotract expects him to sign a three-year deal worth $38 million ($12.9 per year average) this offseason but there’s a chance he can get a bit more. The Jaguars will have around $56 million in cap space, so they can easily meet the guard’s salary demands, whatever they are. However, they need to consider all their alternatives before pulling the trigger.

How much do the Jaguars want to invest in the guard position?

Jaguars offensive linemen A.J. Cann, Andrew Norwell, and Tyler Shatley all are slated to hit the open market. While it makes sense to bring back Norwell and Shatley, this could be a good time to upgrade the right guard spot. Scherff would be a superb addition to their offense but it’s uncertain if the Jags want to commit that much money to the guard position. If they do, he’s their best choice but they need to keep in mind that he’s missed 22 games over the last four years and hasn’t started a full season since 2016.

If the Jaguars want to allocate some of their cap space to other positions but still want to invest in the guard position, Austin Corbett or Quinton Spain then become less-expensive alternatives. Also, Ben Bartch is entering his third year in the league and if the Jaguars’ coaching staff feels good about him, they may not make a big addition to the unit.

Last offseason, the Jaguars brought back all their offensive line starters from 2020. That may not be possible this year with left tackle Cam Robinson potentially leaving the team along with Norwell, Shatley, and Cann. In fact, don’t be surprised if the unit looks significantly different, which will be totally fine as long as Trevor Lawrence has optimal protection up front.