The Seattle Seahawks’ recent binge of free agent offensive lineman likely spells the end of the Germain Ifedi era at right tackle.
Ifedi is an unrestricted free agent after the team did not tender him a fifth-year option last offseason, which would have paid the 25-year-old $10.3 million dollars in 2020.
Ifedi is expected to command a similar amount per year on the open market, especially after Halapoulivaati Vaitai and George Fant, who were both backups last season, each signed deals around $10 million annually.
If the Seahawks weren’t willing to pay Ifedi $10 million last offseason, they are even less likely to do so now, after they added a potential replacement in the form of former Jets tackle Brandon Shell.
Shell’s recent grades on Pro Football Focus are similar to Ifedi’s, and he commits penalties roughly half as frequently. Considering his modest $5.5 million per year contract, Shell is a comparable talent at half the cost – so it’s easy to see why Seattle would bring him into the mix.
Seattle also added center/guard B.J. Finney and tackle/tight end Cedric Ogbuehi. Finney could challenge for the starting left guard spot, potentially pushing Jamarco Jones back out to tackle, while Ogbuehi expects to fill the Fant role as a backup tackle and occasional sixth lineman/tight end.
All this points to a future offensive line without Ifedi in the fold, as the former first round pick will likely have to try to find a starting job elsewhere for the first time in his NFL career.
