Initial grades for 10 of the biggest deals from NFL free agency
By Andrew Falce
Jaguars sign Brandon Scherff in NFL free agency
Deal: 3-year, $49.5 million
Grade: C+
On paper, the deal that the Jaguars gave to Brandon Scherff was one of their better uses of cap space for the team. Scherff is regularly one of the highest-ranked guards in the league and is a mauling run and pass blocker. He has everything you want in an elite lineman. The Jaguars need to protect their young franchise quarterback, so why is this deal graded so low?
Two reasons are holding this deal back. For starters, Scherff now makes the most per year of any guard in the league. While on paper his play deserves such a deal, the issue lies in his ability to actually stay on the field. Scherff has become quite injury-prone in recent years. At his age, those issues usually get worse, not better.
If Scherff can stay healthy, or even mostly healthy, over these next three seasons, this grade will jump into the B range. Until he proves that he can remain healthy though, this deal carries a lot of risks. The Jaguars needed to beef up their line, and Scherff was one of the top names along the interior of the line, but the deal he signed was far from perfect.