Washington places non-exclusive franchise tag on Brandon Scherff

UPDATE: The team clarified it is the non-exclusive tag, NOT the exclusive tag.

Washington has placed the franchise tag on sixth-year guard Brandon Scherff. Most notably, the team used the exclusive tag, which costs more but also means no other team can even talk to Scherff about an offer sheet.

The team announced the news on Twitter Saturday afternoon. Scherff appeared in 11 games this past season before ending the season on injured reserve with elbow and shoulder injuries. He only played in eight games in 2018 due to a torn pectoral muscle.

There have been multiple reports the team wants to sign Scherff to a long-term contract, and head coach Ron Rivera said earlier this month that the team was working to bring back Scherff and fellow guard Ereck Flowers. The team has been negotiating with Flowers, per beat writer JP Finlay, but there is no indication a deal will get done before free agency is set to start this coming Wednesday.

This all comes while the team is trying to figure out what to do Trent Williams, who remains disgruntled and wants out. The latest report from NFL Network has Washington looking for a second round pick but not yet getting that kind of response.