Report: Seahawks add to OL with ex-Jets RT Brandon Shell
Mar 18, 2020, 4:20 PM | Updated: 5:47 pm
The Seahawks reportedly made another addition, signing OT Brandon Shell. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks have reportedly signed a second offensive lineman in free agency, this time offensive tackle Brandon Shell of the New York Jets.
Report: Seahawks bringing back former first-round pick Bruce Irvin
Shell, 28, was a fifth-round selection by the Jets in 2016 and has played there his entire career after playing collegiately at South Carolina. He joins interior lineman B.J. Finney as additions to Seattle’s offensive line. He stands 6’5 and weighs just over 320 pounds.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Shell and the Seahawks have agreed to a two-year deal, $11 million deal.
Seattle adding offensive line help: Seahawks reached agreement on a two-year, $11 million deal with former Jets’ OT Brandon Shell, per source.
Almost like an accidental free-agent OT trade: Seattle gets Shell, Jets get former Seahawks OT George Fant.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2020
Adding to the line was necessary as starting left guard Mike Iupati and starting right tackle Germain Ifedi are unrestricted free agents. Additionally, backup left tackle and occasional tight end/sixth lineman George Fant was an unrestricted free agent, and he has reportedly agreed to a deal with Shell’s former team, the Jets. Fant reportedly will sign a three-year deal worth $30 million with $13 million guaranteed.
The team had in-house options to replace Iupati even before Finney’s signing, but really didn’t have much depth at the tackle spots. Jamarco Jones played one game at left tackle, but he struggled mightily, whereas he played well while filling in at guard.
Ifedi, a former first-round pick, was expected by many to sign elsewhere due to potentially high contract demands as well as inconsistent play and conducting too many penalties. The team didn’t pick up his fifth-year option ahead of 2019 and he is still a free agent.
In terms of penalties, Ifedi had 14 penalties in 16 games last year while Shell had five in 15 games (12 starts).
During four years with the Jets, Shell started 40 games and appeared in 49. Twenty-five of those starts came the last two seasons. He played snaps mostly at right tackle during his career, but also spent time at guard and, like Fant, as an extra blocker/tight end.
Shell may have some injury questions, as he tore his ACL and sustained other damage to his knee late in 2018 before returning for 2019.
With Shell as the lone right tackle on the Seahawks’ roster right now, it will be interesting to see if they add anyone else notable in free agency to compete with him, or if Seattle looks to the draft to fill that spot.
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