Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff has always said he wants to be a Redskin for the rest of his career. Signing his franchise tender was the latest step towards making that hope a reality.
"I'm excited," Scherff said during a phone interview with Voice of the Redskins Larry Michael. "I'm still living out this dream, and I'm just glad I'm back with the Redskins again."
Scherff, 28, has been one of the best right guards in the NFL since the Redskins selected him fifth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He's started 65 games during that stretch and has made three Pro Bowls, including this past season.
Even before Scherff's rookie contract expired in mid-March, new head coach Ron Rivera made multiple comments about wanting to bring back the former Iowa Hawkeye.
"We want to bring both guards back," Rivera said during the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, referring to Scherff and Ereck Flowers.
Rivera also told NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay during the Combine that Scherff is a part of the team's plans for 2020 and that the two sides were continuing to try and work out a deal.
The Redskins were unable to keep Flowers, who signed a multi-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, but they committed to Scherff by placing their non-exclusive franchise tag on him on March 14 -- four days before the start of the new league year.
The team announced Wednesday that Scherff had signed his franchise tender, which keeps him around through the 2020 campaign.
"It's gone well," Scherff said of the contractual process. "Just pretty much sat down and talked to my agent -- that's what he's there for -- and I want to sign a long-term deal with them, too. I love it there, and I've always said I wanted to be a Redskin for the rest of my career. So, hopefully we can work towards that."
Scherff commended the new coaching staff and has already spoken to Rivera and offensive line coach John Matsko. In fact, when Scherff last went to Redskins Park to get his shoulder examined -- he went on Injured Reserve with shoulder and elbow injuries at the end of 2019 -- he and Matsko talked for 30 to 45 minutes.
"He's a great guy, great coach, and we're excited to work with him."
Scherff also has high hopes for him and his teammates in 2020. He praised the offensive and defensive lines, the linebacker corps and the secondary, and he cannot wait to see how Dwayne Haskins Jr. builds off a "heck of an end" to his rookie campaign. Luckily, he'll have "amazing" receivers and "Hall of Fame running back" Adrian Peterson, Scherff added.
It's uncertain when the new-look Redskins will take the field together for the first time. Offseason training was supposed to start April 6, but that has been suspended indefinitely as a part of the league’s response to the novel coronavirus. All league and club facilities are currently closed.
Scherff admits it's weird not being at Redskins Park around this time, but he's taken a one-day-at-a-time approach towards preparing for the upcoming season. He's looking forward to virtual team meetings, whenever those will be.
When team facilities reopen, which Scherff hopes will happen before OTAs are supposed to end in mid-June, he'll pack up for his familiar trip from Iowa to Ashburn, Virginia.
But until then, he's taking advantage of the extra time with his wife, Jenni, and their two German Shorthaired Pointers. It's also the beginning of turkey hunting season -- an offseason activity the COVID-19 pandemic cannot take away.
"I'm going turkey hunting [Friday], Saturday and then next week," Scherff said. "So kind of social distancing myself that way and pretty much getting away from absolutely everybody. I'm just kind of trying to do that and keep busy."
