The Too Soon 2021 NFL Draft Thread

[Scalper]

Originally Posted by Ohioskins

Yes, we should let Scherff walk. After all, All Pro Guards are so easy to replace ??????

Scherff is 10% of our cap this year. The best guard I ever saw was Larry Allen, he was worlds better than Scherff. A guy like Allen maybe worth 10% of salary cap, no way Scherff, especially given injury history.

All Pro players are not easy to replace, but that is not the point. Guard is not a decisive position, not a high leverage position. No one ever added a RG and said, man, we're a contender now. You can find a player with a steep drop off from Scherff who is still serviceable for $14M a year minimum less, and a solid 3rd round pick for $17M a year less. The question is not, is Brandon Scherff a great player. Of course he is. The question is, is a RG on a team with holes everywhere, with a major injury history, a smart signing given where this team is at?

The answer is no. Scherff was perpetually injured in prime of his career, it isn't going to magically get better on the wrong side of 30.

The guys you want making $18M a year on your offense are a QB, a stud WR, a LT. The guys you want making $10M on your offense are maybe an elite TE, a RT, a C, perhaps a #2 WR. It doesn't matter if Scherff is the best guard to ever play the game, having a RG worlds better than the alternative option does not transform your O the way other more important positions do.
Having a WR, QB, or LT that is worlds better than alternative does transform your O. It is that simple. We should not invest so much in such a low leverage position when we have long term needs at both Ts, QB, etc. EVERY starter on OL is on non-rookie deal. Not sustainable financially.

I honestly believe we tagged Scherff hoping to work out long term deal. I suspect sticking point much more than annual money, but rather length, injury guarantees, etc. We could be on the hook for a PILE of money long term for a player who has historically played about a third of snaps, is hurt one third of time, and not ridiculous to think that will be half the time as he ages. Even if he stays healthy and dominates, he is at the absolute least important position on the entire offense. We are building O bass ackwards.