The Washington Redskins’ talented right guard, Brandon Scherff, was benched this last week due to an injury, and he was subsequently sent to the injured reserve on Tuesday, making it so that his outing in Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers was the last time we’d see him this season.
Now the question must be raised; will it be the last time we see Scherff in a Washington Redskins uniform?
The fifth-year lineman — who was one of four Redskins to be named to the Pro Bowl this season — is set to hit free agency this offseason as his rookie deal is on its last legs. He has expressed interest in being a Redskin for life, but the team knows that will come at a steep price, seeing as his level of play has consistently improved year-over-year since Washington drafted him in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Though Scherff has quietly risen to become one of the best guards in the NFL, a high-end price tag might deter the Redskins from keeping him on the roster, especially if they have a younger and cheaper option that they can go to. That might be exactly what they found this season with rookie guard Wes Martin.
Martin started for the injured Scherff this past week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he performed extremely well in relief. He was part of an offensive front that didn’t allow a sack for just the second time this season, and he showed an ability to get upfield and block in space.
Watch Wes Martin. Diving attempt creates enough to help Peterson. Can see DB widen just a bit to get around as 67 sprints over. 67 will be a good player here. pic.twitter.com/aWWNJVnMdf
— John Keim (@john_keim) December 18, 2019
While Scherff is an extremely talented lineman who acts as one of the few first-round draft picks that have actually lived up to the billing in Washington, an expected contract signing north of $15 million per season can seem a bit daunting, especially when there could be a highly-serviceable No. 2 option at that spot.
Over the next two weeks, with Scherff on the IR, Martin will be placed under the spotlight as the Redskins look to make a decision that could largely affect their salary cap and on-field production for years to come. If the rookie continues to get the job done, we may have seen the last of Brandon Scherff in the Burgundy and Gold.
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