New Seahawks LT Duane Brown: ‘I couldn’t ask for anything better’
Nov 2, 2017, 6:00 AM | Updated: 3:10 pm
Duane Brown's move to Seattle reunites him with some familiar faces. (AP)
(AP)
New Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown will be able to make an immediate impact for Seattle’s offensive line. Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters Wednesday the Pro Bowler will play in the team’s Week 9 matchup against Washington.
Germain Ifedi ‘ecstatic’ about arrival of Duane Brown, gives up No. 76
“To bring in a guy with the kind of background experience that Duane has, to add to one of the youngest groups in the NFL, it could fit together perfectly and we’re really counting on something really good happening out of that,” Carroll said.
The Seahawks acquired Brown from the Texans in one of the bigger deals of a rather hectic NFL trade deadline. Seattle originally agreed to send cornerback Jeremy Lane, a 2019 second-round pick and 2018 fifth-round pick to Houston for Brown. After Lane failed his physical, Seattle instead bumped the 2018 pick up to a a third-rounder and received a fifth-round pick along with Brown in return.
Acquiring Brown was a move general manager John Schneider had been considering for some time, spurred by the season-ending ACL injury to starting left tackle George Fant in August. Second-year player Rees Odhiambo has started in Fant’s place since then, but the 25-year-old pro lacks the experience Brown now brings to the line.
“Ever since George was hurt, I think we knew we were trying to figure it out and put it together,” Carroll said. “Rees (Odhiambo) did a good job jumping in there right from the start, and battled. This will be a great opportunity for us, though, to pick up the experience that we can’t get any other way than by playing.”
While it’s always stressful for players involved in trades to pack up their things and move immediately, Brown – who called his last few days a “whirlwind” – was already familiar with several players on his new team. He and safety Kam Chancellor are Virginia Tech alumni, and he met right tackle Germain Ifedi (a Houston native) years ago when Ifedi was at Texas A&M.
Brown told reporters Wednesday he’s ready to jump right into the Seahawks’ culture.
“I thought I did some great things in my career and I thought we had some great years there in Houston, but to come here and immediately be a part of a contender and have a chance to win, it’s worked out amazing,” Brown said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
