Seahawks could look to Jamarco Jones as starter at guard in 2020
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks might look to get younger on their offensive line in 2020. If so, Seattle might see Jamarco Jones as a starter at guard, not tackle.
Jamarco Jones was pretty good for the most part when he filled in for the Seahawks this season. Somewhat, this was unexpected as he played well at guard, a position he hadn’t played since…well, ever. But against the Rams in week five, Jones had to step in against a good Los Angeles defensive front and did his job.
The Seahawks have at least one opening at guard in 2020. Mike Iupati was signed to a one-year deal last offseason and is a free agent. Iupati was solid this season when he played but as the year went on he began to struggle with injuries. With an offseason of preparation and training camp work, Jones could replace Iupati.
Jones might also be asked to play right tackle if the Seahawks can’t work out a long-term deal with free-agent Germain Ifedi. At Ohio State, Jones was a good performer and named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior. He started his last 27 games. But Jones isn’t going to play left tackle with Seattle because the greatness that is Duane Brown currently has that position in Seattle.
Still, Jones might be asked to play guard long-term in Seattle. His unexpected ability to do so in 2019 might have changed the way Pete Carroll views his future offensive line.
Jones could be sent back to the bench, though. He will be pushed by Phil Haynes, a natural guard who Seattle took in the 2019 draft and missed a lot of the season with injury. Haynes is a big guy and in far fewer snaps graded better than Iupati, Jones and right guard D.J. Fluker, according to Pro Football Focus. But Jones might have flashed enough where offensive line coach Mike Solari believes in his potential.
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There is also the chance that Fluker does not return. He is signed through 2020 and his cap hit of $3.5 million isn’t huge, but he is a constant injury risk and Seattle might simply try to get younger on the line to build for a long-term fix on who plays on the o-line. If this is the case, Jones might be called upon to be a starter. For a team with Russell Wilson as their quarterback and Chris Carson as their running back, Jones could help keep the Seahawks a contender if he plays well.