Report: Germain Ifedi leaving Seahawks to sign with Chicago

Mar 25, 2020, 12:05 PM | Updated: 12:07 pm

Seahawks starting right tackle Germain Ifedi is reportedly signing with the Bears. (Getty)

(Getty)

Seattle Sports

A Seahawks offensive starter has apparently found a new home, as Germain Ifedi will reportedly be signing with the Chicago Bears.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was the first with the report, and Ifedi is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Bears.

Former #Seahawks OL Germain Ifedi is signing a 1-year deal with the #Bears, source said. The former first-rounder gets a fresh start and may play guard in Chicago.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2020

The Seahawks drafted Ifedi with the 31st pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. Ifedi started his NFL career as a right guard in 2016, but transitioned to right tackle. That was similar to his college career, where he started as a guard before moving to right tackle later on due to first-round pick Jake Matthews entering the 2014 NFL Draft. Coincidentally, Idefi moved to right tackle so Cedric Ogbuehi, who recently signed with the Seahawks, could move from right tackle to left tackle due to Matthews’ departure.

Ifedi has failed to live up to his billing as a first-round selection, as he’s been heavily penalized and has been lackluster at times, especially in pass protection. During his four-year career, Ifedi has been penalized 46 times in 60 career regular season games.

While his play has been questioned, Ifedi is tough and durable, missing just four games out of 64 since entering the league in 2016.

The Seahawks declined Ifedi’s fifth-year option before the 2019 season, and after a flurry of offensive linemen signings last week, primarily Brandon Shell, whose contract of $11 million over two years would lead one to believe that he will take over at right tackle.

Ifedi becomes the fourth member of the 2019 Seahawks to be leaving in free agency, joining defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson (Buffalo), defensive lineman Al Woods (Jacksonville) and fellow offensive lineman George Fant, who got a three-year, $30 million payday from the New York Jets.

It’s interesting Fant got a deal worth over $13 million guaranteed while Ifedi’s deal is for one year and, as Rapoport noted, he may be moving back to guard, as Fant has just 24 career regular season starts to his name and missed all of 2017 with torn ACL.

With Ifedi’s departure, the two main question marks on the offensive line are at left guard and center.

Left tackle Duane Brown and right guard D.J. Fluker are both under contract for next season and are expected back. While center Justin Britt, who tore his ACL last season, is also under contract, he is seen as a potential cap casualty due to his high cap hit of roughly $9 million. Joey Hunt, Britt’s backup, was tendered, so he’s expected back, and the team signed guard/center B.J. Finney in free agency.

At left guard, Finney could start, and there’s also in-house options of Jamarco Jones, Phil Haynes and Jordan Simmons.

With moves on the offensive line seemingly set until we hit the draft in April, all eyes are on (if they weren’t already) how the Seahawks address the pass rush. The Seahawks have brought former first-round pick Bruce Irvin back to Seattle and re-signed Jarran Reed, but they’re making a push to bring back Jadeveon Clowney.

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