Explaining how Seahawks Germain Ifedi is still starting

The Seattle Seahawks start Germain Ifedi at right tackle. For most of his career he hasn’t been good. Why is he still starting?

The offensive line has been a position that has truly plagued the Seahawks over the past five years. The Seahawks have spent a lot of capital trying to acquire top tier o-line talent. Between the 2014 and 2017 seasons the Seahawks have drafted 4 different offensive linemen in the first three rounds. We also traded with the Houston Texans for disgruntled star left tackle Duane Brown for a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick.

Considering the amount of time and turnover the Seahawks have had on the offensive line, many fans question why Germain Ifedi is still starting for the team despite his struggles. To understand this, we must first understand the process that got us to where we are today.

Germain Ifedi left Texas A&M as a redshirt junior entering the 2016 NFL Draft. During his freshman campaign he was voted to the All-American team slotted in at the right guard. His sophomore and junior seasons he bounced out to right tackle. During this time, he was voted to the second team All-SEC by league coaches.

Scouts loved his intangibles; great hand strength, solid athleticism, versatility and an overall massive frame. He was considered to have all the tools to be a successful tackle, he just needed coaching and time.

The Seahawks offensive line in 2016 was under coach Tom Cable which ran a much different system than what we have currently. Coach Cable preferred overall athleticism for his offensive line unit which allowed the players to bend together cohesively as the defensive line attempts to create holes. Ifedi’s strengths fit perfectly in this offensive line style so the Seahawks decided to roll the dice hoping to get the most out of the athletic Texas A&M product.

Ifedi was believed to be more of a stash and develop player than a start right away player. However, due to the depleted offensive line Ifedi started 13 games his rookie year. He accumulated 6 penalties and allowed 5.5 sacks. Considering how abysmal the offensive line was around him and how raw of a prospect he was, he showed fans and players alike the talent that made him a first-round selection in the previous year’s draft. It wasn’t a perfect showing, but the promise was there.