Cincy Jungle
The Bengals are in need of multiple guards this offseason. While they will undoubtedly look at the draft, one veteran free agent makes sense for the short-term.
Before the onset of true, open 2025 NFL free agency, the Cincinnati Bengals made the tough but predictable decision to release veteran right guard Alex Cappa. The team wanted to create some extra financial wiggle room for the eventual mega-extensions to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the Bengals also felt that a possible option for improvement would be available on the open market.
While the talent available at guard was apparent, questions about the options also lingered. Health was a major concern, while fit and age were also factors to consider with those available for signing.
Cincinnati flirted with Teven Jenkins, but his injury history seemed to scare them off, and he ultimately landed with the Browns. The Bengals did sign versatile veteran Lucas Patrick, but the sense is that they may be looking at another veteran to pair with a pick (or two) at the interior of the offensive line in this year’s draft class.
Brandon Scherff is still available on the market and could provide short-term steadiness at right guard. In both the positive and negative ways, the signing would be an extremely Bengals-like move, but it could provide immediate value.
(Editor’s Note: This was in context as Scherff being an NFL guard and not a tackle, as he played at Iowa)
Scherff opted to stay in his home state of Iowa for college ball, joining the Hawkeyes as a three-star recruit, as well as a high school track and field standout (shot put and discus).
After redshirting as a freshman, Scherff played in eleven games at left guard with three starts. He subsequently replaced star left tackle Riley Reiff (does that name sound familiar?) at that spot, but his season was cut short by a broken fibula.
He then asserted himself as a top offensive lineman prospect the following year but opted to stay for one final year at Iowa. It paid off, as he earned the Outland Trophy and eventually became the No. 5 overall pick in 2015 by Washington.
Even though he had a track record of success as a left tackle, most pundits believed his best career trajectory was as a guard, and that proved true. He anchored the right guard spot for Washington, earning five Pro Bowl berths and a First-Team All-Pro nomination (2020) in seven seasons there.
He then left for Jacksonville three years ago, signing a three-year, $49.5 million deal, and was once again regarded as both a consistent performer and a team leader. The Jaguars are in a state of turnover, of sorts, so Scherff is not in their future plans.
Scherff embodies NFL consistency...
