Most of the players that the Jacksonville Jaguars let walk in free agency have found a new home. However, there are a few that still remain unsigned. Offensive guard Brandon Scherff is one of them. The good news is that there's a team that could most definitely welcome him with arms wide open.
Sterling Xie of Pro Football Network came up with a list of one free agent each NFL team should ink after the NFL draft, and suggests the Washington Commanders arrange a reunion with Scherff. He argues that the former Pro Bowl nod could solidify their offensive line in light of Sam Cosmi's ACL injury in the 2024 playoffs.
"The position isn’t exactly a must-add for the Washington Commanders, but none of the current options are ideal. Brandon Coleman was a left tackle as a rookie and for the majority of his collegiate career at TCU. He’s the frontrunner to start at right guard and has only one college start back in 2021 at the position. Coleman actually has more experience at left guard, where he made 11 starts for the Horned Frogs."
Xie goes on to say that Brandon Coleman wouldn't necessarily be left out of the equation, arguing that he could challenge Nick Allegretti for the starting job at right guard.
The fifth overall pick in 2015, Scherff spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Washington Commanders. While he missed several games throughout his stint in Washington, he made the Pro Bowl five times and earned a First-Team All-Pro designation in 2020. That helped him sign a three-year deal worth a whopping $49.5 million with the Jags in 2022.
One of the biggest red flags at the time of the signing was that Scherff hadn't played a full season since 2016, his sophomore campaign. Surprisingly, he managed to start 51 consecutive games in Duval despite the fact that he dealt with a series of ailments. On the other hand, the Iowa native wasn't nearly as dominant as he was with the Commanders. And looking to raise the roster floor, the new regime let him walk in free agency.
Aside from the Commanders, the Cincinnati Bengals have been brought up as a logical destination for Scherff. And in case you're wondering, it wouldn't make sense for the Jags to re-sign him at this point. They already turned the page, signing Patrick Mekari in free agency and drafting Wyatt Milum. Having beefed up the interior trenches, there's no longer room for the veteran in Jacksonville.
The Commanders makes sense for Brandon Scherff after leaving the Jaguars
There's no doubt that Scherff could help the Commanders. Sam Cosmi is expected to miss a portion, if not all, of 2025. Having the former Iowa Hawkeye around would prevent Washington from thrusting Cosmi into action before he's 100 percent recovered.
As noted before, Scherff isn't nearly as dominant as he was during his heyday, but he was still dependable last year, giving up just sacks and allowing 17 total pressures. A one-year deal would make the most sense, and the fact that Washington is set to make a playoff run could incentivize the veteran offensive lineman to return to his old team.
The bottom line is that sometimes players have to wait more than they would like to sign with a team in free agency. That said, it may be worth it for Brandon Scherff.