Brandon Scherff rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

Washington views retaining Scherff as a top priority this season, even if they need to use the franchise tag to do so. It would seem unlikely that he winds up hitting the open market, after a dominant 2020 campaign.

Using the franchise tag would be the costlier of the options for Washington, as Scherff could wind up counting at least $14.5 million against the cap in 2021. This might also be the offseason that Washington finally gets its act together and finds a way to secure Scherff long-term, thanks to the fact that the Football Team enters the offseason with $38.27 million in cap space, fifth-most in the NFL, so resources match need.

However, it easy to see why Washington would pull out all the stops to retain him, not just because of his consistently high level of play on the field but because as a captain, he is one of the strongest leadership voices on the roster.

There are several teams that make a lot of sense, and will likely target Scherff if he does become available, it just seems unlikely that Washington, under the leadership of head coach Ron Rivera is going to let that happen.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.