![Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff (68) runs during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets held off the Jaguars 32-25. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01k0mew6kg7ee8b0hmfx.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff (68) runs during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jets held off the Jaguars 32-25. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Back in 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars found themselves needing to bolster the interior offensive trenches, so they didn't hesitate to pay a premium for the best guard available at the time: Brandon Scherff. The former Pro Bowl nod immediately solidified the line of scrimmage, but after a three-year stint with the Jags, he became a free agent and remains unsigned ahead of free agency.
A first-round pick in 2015, Scherff was one of the most dominant guards in the NFL during his time with the Washington Commanders. This led Jacksonville to give him a three-year deal worth $49.5 million in an effort to improve Trevor Lawrence's protection.
Although he wasn't nearly as good in Jacksonville as he was during his heyday, the former Iowa Hawkeye was still a dependable player. Moreover, he managed to stay make to make 51 consecutive starts. This is noteworthy when you take into account that prior to landing with the Jags, he had last started a full season back in 2016.
What makes the feat more surprising is that Scherff played through a myriad of injuries. Again, he failed to recapture his Pro Bowl form, but he was somewhat of a bright spot on an offensive line that routinely struggled to protect Lawrence or open holes in the running game. This is why it's baffling that the 2020 All-Pro guard has yet to latch onto a club ahead of the regular season.
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Why has former Jaguars OG Brandon Scherff is still a free agent?
Leaving aside that he failed to recapture his Pro Bowl form with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the biggest issue that may be preventing him from signing with a new team is his age. He'll turn 34 later this year. On the other hand, he could be a fine short-term fix up front for a couple of teams.
Grant Cohn of Sports Illustrated argues that the San Francisco 49ers have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and Scheff could give them an immediate boost. Similarly, Aaron Schatz of ESPN suggests that the veteran lineman could give the Seattle Seahawks a spark at right guard.
Again, the age factor may make teams hesitant to give Scherff a look, so maybe he'll need to wait for a club to suffer injuries at training camp to give him a look. On the other hand, the longer he waits for an opening, the less likely he'll sign.
At this point, though, nobody will bat an eye if Scherff doesn't play in 2025. That said, he's had an illustrious career, so he may not be fully opposed to the idea of hanging up the cleats.