Tag: Brandon Scherff

Jaguars restructure Brandon Scherff’s contract to save about $5 million

The Jaguars reworked Brandon Scherff’s deal to save some cap space and keep the veteran guard on the roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff restructured his contract with the team for the second time in as many offseasons, clearing about $5 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The exact terms of the restructure haven’t been revealed yet, but the new deal will fully guarantee Scherff’s salary for the 2024 season and add three voidable years on the end of the deal. Scherff already had three voidable years added to the contract last year, so the salary cap hits for the offensive line are now expected to stay on the Jaguars’ books through the 2030 season.

Scherff, 32, was due to count just under $24 million against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2024 prior to the latest restructure. The new deal will push that number closer to $19 million.

With Ezra Cleveland also brought back by the Jaguars, the reworked deal for Scherff means the team will likely keep four of its five starters along the offensive line heading into next year. It appears only the center position, which has been manned by Luke Fortner in the last two seasons, is set to be replaced.

Scherff was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in seven seasons with Washington before joining the Jaguars in 2022 on a three-year, $49.5 million deal. He earned a grade of 72 or higher on PFF in all of his time in Washington, but received 60.6 and 67.3 grades in the last two years.

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Jaguars reportedly working to restructure Brandon Scherff’s contract

The Jaguars are reportedly close to another restructure with Brandon Scherff, which would keep him with the team in 2024.

The Jacksonville Jaguars restructured Brandon Scherff’s contract in 2023 and they’re finalizing the details of another restructure this offseason, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Scherff, 32, is due to count $23,967,000 against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2024, but the team could clear as much as $10,717,500 in space with another restructure. It will, however, push more dead money into Jacksonville’s future. After the 2023 restructure, Scherff is due to count $7,401,000 against the Jaguars’ cap in 2025 despite his contract automatically voiding after the 2024 season.

Assuming the Jaguars are able to agree with Scherff on a restructured deal, it would seemingly guarantee that the veteran lineman is again the team’s starting guard in 2024. With the return of Ezra Cleveland on a three-year deal and general manager Trent Baalke’s assurances that Cam Robinson will return, it seems the Jacksonville offensive line in 2024 will largely mirror its 2023 line.

Scherff, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Washington Commanders, signed a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Jaguars in 2022. He’s been named an offensive team captain in both of his seasons in Jacksonville, but hasn’t been able to recreate the elite play of his time in Washington.

While Pro Football Focus gave Scherff a grade above 72 in all seven of his seasons with the Commanders, he’s earned 60.6 and 67.3 grades in his two years with the Jaguars.

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Doug Pederson ‘really feels comfortable’ with current offensive linemen

Yes, it’s lying season, but it sure doesn’t sound like the Jaguars are planning to make big changes to their offensive line.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL during the 2023 season. It struggled to protect Trevor Lawrence despite rarely facing blitzes and allowed Travis Etienne to be stuffed for no gain at a league-high rate.

But Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t seem too concerned about finding replacements up front.

“Cam [Robinson] missed eight games last year, our left guard was a little bit of an injury revolving door type thing, Luke Fortner at center, Brandon Scherff, and then Anton [Harrison], the rookie, was learning every week and played every game for us,” Pederson said during an NFL Network appearance during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

“We really feel comfortable with the guys we have there, we just have to get back to what they do best. To me, that’s kind of simplifying, put it on their shoulders, but at the same time, as coaches, putting them in position to just go out and execute.”

Earlier in the week, Pederson noted that continuity was a big issue for the line too.

“If you think about it, Cam, Ezra [Cleveland], Luke, Brandon and [Anton Harrison] played one game together,” Pederson said. “We didn’t have consistency; we didn’t have continuity. That affects five guys up front. That’s what we have to get back to, we have to get back to a little bit more consistency there.”

Should Pederson be taking at face value? Maybe not. There’s little incentive for the coach to throw his linemen under the bus in late February when there’s still plenty of offseason to sort out changes on the roster.

Yet, Jaguars brass has also had no issue with underlining cornerback as a spot on the roster that needs work.

Trent Baalke told reporters he expects Cam Robinson to stay on the roster, he’s in negotiations to bring Ezra Cleveland back, and the Jaguars appear to be in no rush to part with Scherff either.

It seems Fortner is the Jaguars offensive lineman most in danger of being replaced, but wholesale changes up and down the line are looking increasingly unlikely.

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2024 NFL draft: 10 year history of the No. 5 overall pick

Here’s a quick look back at every player selected at No. 5 overall dating back to the 2014 NFL draft.

With the Chargers holding the No. 5 overall pick, here is a look at the past ten years of fifth selections in the NFL draft.

8 moves the Jaguars could make to create cap space in 2024

The Jaguars may need to create cap space if they hope to make moves this offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are projected to enter the 2024 offseason with much more salary cap space than they did when they were over the limit heading into the 2023 offseason.

This time around, the Jaguars have more room to maneuver, but there are also some moves that could eat up that space quickly. For one, the team seems likely to franchise tag Josh Allen, which would guarantee the pass rusher about $22 million for the 2024 season.

If Jacksonville hopes to make that move along with any other additions or extensions in the 2024 offseason, the team simply has to find a way to create more room.

Fortunately for the Jaguars there are ways to make that happen. Some of the decisions will be relatively easy, others will be a much tougher call.

Here are eight ways the Jaguars could cut costs and clear space this offseason:

5 Jaguars players to watch vs the Buccaneers in Week 16

Can the Jaguars get their offense back on track in Tampa Bay?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are finally, mercifully done playing AFC North teams. After playing the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens three weeks in a row, the Jaguars fell from 8-3 to 8-6.

This makes Jacksonville’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers much more important. The Jaguars have a narrow lead — only due to tiebreakers — over the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, who also sit at 8-6.

Tampa Bay is also playing for its division, though. The Buccaneers are 7-7, as are the New Orleans Saints, so they will need to keep to their winning ways if they want to earn a playoff spot.

While the Buccaneers have talent on both sides of the football, Jacksonville has the talent to get the job done if it can put things back together.

Here are five Jaguars players to watch when they travel to Tampa Bay to play the Bucs in Week 16:

5 Jaguars players to watch vs. the Ravens in Week 15

Will a Jaguars wide receiver please step up?

Despite quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s active status last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Cleveland Browns in the second of three straight games against AFC North teams.

The Baltimore Ravens, on the other hand, beat the Los Angeles Rams to earn a third straight victory.

Even though Lawrence played last week, the Jaguars are far from complete. Wide receiver Christian Kirk is likely out for the rest of the regular season and defensive backs Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco didn’t practice Wednesday.

Here are five Jaguars players to watch as they take on the Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 15:

Rookie OT Anton Harrison finding his swagger, says Brandon Scherff

Brandon Scherff says it’s been fun seeing Anton Harrison settle in and play with more swagger.

The Jacksonville Jaguars asked rookie offensive tackle Anton Harrison to grow up fast in 2023. The first-round pick was anointed the starting right tackle essentially the second he stepped off the plane in Jacksonville and has faced a gauntlet of pass rushers, including the Chiefs’ Chris Jones and Steelers’ T.J. Watt.

Now more than three months into his NFL career, the growth of Harrison is evident.

“He’s communicating a lot more, the first couple of games he was quiet,” Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff said Monday. “He’s playing a lot more physical, he’s playing with a lot more swagger, so it’s fun to see him knocking people on their butt and celebrate.

“He’s got really good feet, he’s really long and he’s only 21 years old which is absolutely crazy that I’m 10 years older than him. But he’s got a bright future and I’m excited to be able to play next to him.”

Harrison was credited by Pro Football Focus with allowing three sacks in the first two weeks and five before the Jaguars’ Week 9 bye. In the last five weeks, he hasn’t allowed a sack and the last hit he allowed was in the team’s Week 10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

“There’s no breaks in this league,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said last week. “We’ve faced great pass rushers on either side of the line, so I think that helps that Anton knows he’s been through these types of situations.”

That’s good because Harrison will have another tall test Sunday night when the Baltimore Ravens come to Jacksonville. No team has more sacks through the first 14 weeks with Justin Madubuike (11) and Jadeveon Clowney (7.5) leading the way.

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49ers’ Arik Armstead accuses Brandon Scherff of ‘dirty play’

The 49ers’ Arik Armstead says Brandon Scherff could’ve seriously injured him on a “dirty play.” You be the judge:

Late in the first quarter of the San Francisco 49ers’ 34-3 win, defensive lineman Arik Armstead was attended to by trainers on the field before slowly walking off the field under his own power.

While he returned from the injury, but Armstead said after the game that it was caused by a “dirty play” from Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Scherff.

“He tripped me, kicked me in my knee, and kind of messed up my day. “Armstead said after the game. “I had a lot of respect for him, but tripping me, kicking me in my knee, [I] could have got seriously hurt. It was just a dirty play.”

You be the judge.

Scherff, 31, was a five-time Pro Bowler during his time with Washington before signing a three-year deal with the Jaguars last season. He’s been a team captain in both of his seasons in Jacksonville.

Armstead, who has 31.5 sacks in his career, finished Sunday with 0.5 sacks and three tackles against the Jaguars.

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What does the Ezra Cleveland trade mean for Walker Little?

Walker Little has spent most of his NFL career as the odd man out. It looks like that could be the case once again.

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Walker Little has spent most of his NFL career as the odd man out. It looks like that could be the case once again.

On Tuesday, the Jaguars made a trade just before the NFL deadline to acquire veteran guard Ezra Cleveland from the Minnesota Vikings. While coach Doug Pederson described the addition as one that’ll give the Jaguars “really good depth,” it sure seems like a little more than that.

Cleveland, 25, developed into a consistent and reliable starting lineman during his time with the Vikings. And Jacksonville probably didn’t give up a draft pick for what could be a short-term rental just so Cleveland can watch from the sideline.

If Cleveland does end up starting at left guard (a consistent weak spot for the Jaguars for the last two years), that probably leaves no place for Little. That’s nothing new.

The 2021 second-round pick spent the majority of his first two seasons as a backup for offensive tackles Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor. The departure of Taylor in free agency opened up a place for Little to start at right tackle, but the Jaguars quickly filled that hole with 2023 first-round pick Anton Harrison.

With Ben Bartch and Tyler Shatley struggling at left guard early in the year, Little stepped into the role when Robinson returned from a four-game suspension. That lasted just 11 snaps before a knee injury sidelined Little and pushed Shatley back into the starting lineup.

Little should be healthy enough to return to the field after the bye week (he didn’t play in Week 8, despite being active), but there may not be a spot left for him to fill. And the wildest part is that Little may be the team’s best offensive lineman!

In five games and 179 pass blocking snaps this season, Little was credited with allowing only one sack. His 76.0 grade on Pro Football Focus so far this season is second best on the Jaguars offense behind only quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s 84.9.

Having too many good offensive linemen and not enough starting spots is a great problem to have, but Little’s inability to secure a consistent role is a peculiar byproduct.

Is Little the future starting left tackle with the Jaguars able to recoup $17.75 million in cap space by cutting Robinson after the season? It looked that way before the 2023 season started and could still be the case, but it no longer seems like a slam dunk move with Robinson playing some of the best football of his career.

Will Cleveland leave as a free agent and free up Little to take back starting left guard duties for good? Or would it make more sense to cut ties with Brandon Scherff and move Little to right guard?

Eventually, it feels prudent to get Little permanently involved in the Jaguars offense. The team’s Tuesday trade for Cleveland probably kicked that can down the road, though.

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