With less than a month to go for the 2025 NFL Draft, most free agents have found a new team. However, there are a few who are still looking for a home. One of them is offensive guard Brandon Scheff, who last suited up for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Pro Bowl nod hasn't garnered much interest in recent weeks, but an NFL voice believes the Cincinnati Bengals could soon come in calling.
Anthony Consenza of SB Nation believes that Scherff could provide immediate value in Cincy, arguing that the Bengals could plug him in at guard and still add reinforcements to the offensive line in the draft.
"While a contract for Scherff won’t be a bank-breaker, there are signs of a team signing a player like Scherff as an “all-in move.” The interior of the line has been a problem for a while now, and Scherff would undoubtedly bring stability, even if only for one year.
The team captain designations and ability to mentor young players also have to appeal to Cincinnati as they attempt to get back to their championship goals. These are facets that Zac Taylor has valued since becoming the head coach in Cincinnati."
The offensive line is most definitely a cause for concern for Cincinnati despite the fact that they had a heavy investment on the group in recent years.
The Bengals just gave monster contracts to receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is in line to get a pay bump. This means that they won't be able to make a big signing on the offensive line and will need to resort to either the draft or bargain shopping for potential upgrades. That's where Scheff comes in.
A first-round pick in the 2015 draft, Scheff spent seven seasons and earned five Pro Bowl designations with the Washington Commanders. He signed a top-market deal in 2022 to join the Jags. When the former Iowa Hawkeye landed in Duval, his biggest question mark was his availability or lack thereof, having last started a full season in 2016. Surprisingly, he didn't miss a single game during his three-year stint with the Jags
However, Scherff is 33, and while solid, his salary didn't match his production, so the Jags let him walk in free agency. Since then, he has not been linked to any team.
Related story: NFL Films reminds the Jaguars of a play they would surely want to forget
The Jaguars made the right call when they let Brandon Scherff walk
There's no doubt that Scherff was a key contributor for the Jacksonville Jaguars on and off the field, having been named team captain in 2022 and 2023. However, it was time to move on despite the fact that he was still solid in pass protection, giving up no sacks and just 17 total pressures.
On the other hand, the Jags weren't paying Scheff to be solid. They made him one of the highest-paid guards in 2022 and didn't get nearly enough bang for their buck. Not long after they let him walk into free agency, the front office signed Patrick Mekari to a three-year deal worth $37.5 million.
Although Mekari lacks the accolades Scheff possesses, he's younger and has more upside at this stage of their respective career. If they wanted to, the Jags would have probably brought back the latter, but they would be getting a player who's closer to the end than the beginning of his NFL career.
That's exactly what Scheff offers right now, which is why he's still a free agent. Then again, it may be just enough for the Cincinnati Bengals to patch their offensive line.