Seattle Seahawks: Options to Replace Germain Ifedi, and Should it Happen?
Internal Candidates
The best option is to look at the Seahawks depth on the offensive line. The problem with looking internally, however, is that all the options are either injured, just came back from injury, or have little experience at RT at this current moment.
George Fant
First, George Fant. He played basketball for four years at Western Kentucky and has the experience to “box out” his opponents. He used his fifth-year option to join the college football program as a tight end.
Fant didn’t go to the NFL combine with the other tight ends, he was eventually listed as an offensive lineman during Western Kentucky University’s Pro Day. Fant impressed the Seahawks with his raw athletic ability and eventually made the team. Former offensive line coach Tom Cable chose to add Fant because he was a “long-armed athlete.”
Fant hasn’t been injured, but he doesn’t have much experience at right tackle since being switched to the position during the preseason. According to Pete Carroll, Ifedi beat out Fant for the job and that the Seahawks were better off moving forward with its current lineup. If Fant was given a chance to really show what he has learned at practice, he’d have a good chance at taking the job.
Jamarco Jones
Next, Jamarco Jones. The Seahawks 2018 fifth round pick (168 overall) was another player among the challengers to Germain Ifedi this summer. Jones suffered a high ankle sprain during week one’s preseason game against Indianapolis. He has since had surgery and was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the regular season.
Jones has the ability to return to practice in a few weeks, according to the NFL’s new injured reserve rules, but there has been no further update on his status. If Jones does return, he will still need some development time before being ready to challenge for the starting job. At this point, Jones looks more like a more viable option for 2019.
D.J. Fluker
Finally, there is DJ Fluker. The 2018 spring free-agent signee is currently the Seahawks starting right guard. In college, he played right tackle at Alabama. Fluker was selected 11th overall in the 2013 draft by the San Diego Chargers, as a tackle. The 340-pound lineman started 15 games his first year, earning NFL all-rookie honors.
Fluker followed that season by starting all 16 games the next year for San Diego. The Chargers moved him inside to play guard during the 2015 season. He started 12 games at RG that year and then started all 16 games in 2016.
He was let go by San Diego after the season and was picked up on a one year deal by the New York Giants. He started six games at right guard for NYG before landing on injured reserve. Seattle signed Fluker last March to play between Ifedi and center Justin Britt.
Fluker has the most NFL experience at RT among his fellow teammates. The plan was for Fluker to stay at right guard, but J.R. Sweezy has done a good enough job, while Fluker missed the first two games of 2018 with an injury.