With free agency starting to slow down a bit, we here at Touchdown Wire are starting to take stock of the moves made so far. Some of those have us excited, as outlined recently with some players set to benefit from new situations in the year ahead.
Other moves have us puzzled.
Here are some of the head-scratchers.
George Fant, OT, New York Jets
The New York Jets needed to address their offensive line this off-season. Many writers assume the Jets are a lock to select one of the “Big Four” offensive tackles in the upcoming draft, whether Tristian Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Andrew Thomas or Jedrick Wills, Jr. However, if they added an offensive tackle via free agency, they would be able to address another need with that 11th overall selection.
Perhaps they could address wide receiver. After all, the Jets are poised to lose Robby Anderson in free agency. In a year with several top-flight talents at that position, a player like CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs could give Sam Darnold the type of threat in the passing game the Jets’ offense desperately needs.
There were some tackles available. Bryan Bulaga and Jack Conklin for example.
The Jets went in a different direction: George Fant from the Seattle Seahawks.
Now Fant has done some nice things for the Seahawks the past few seasons. He has played in a few different spots, for example last year he saw 264 snaps at left tackle and 215 at tight end, when Seattle used a jumbo formation. Over his career he has seen snaps at left tackle and right tackle as well.
He even does some good things on film. Take, for example, this snap against Derek Barnett in pass protection:
George Fant tossing Derek Barnett pic.twitter.com/wAxgeHND3L
— πππ ππππππ« (@NYJets_Media) March 17, 2020
He can even catch passes if asked:
Iβm underwhelmed with today, but we will see how the rest of free agency plays out before we can judge the George Fant signing
In the meantime, here is Fant catching an 8 yard pass #Jets #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/ZW5gqb2n5I
— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) March 17, 2020
The main issue here is the cost, in two different terms. The Jets gave Fant a three-year, $27.3 million dollar contract.
The Los Angeles Chargers gave Bulaga a three-year, $30 million dollar contract.
Noted offensive line guru Brandon Thorn had this to say about the move:
Bulaga & Fant each got 3-years, $30M. That's it, that's the tweet.
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 19, 2020
The point is this: The Jets could have acquired a better offensive tackle than Fant for roughly the same money. Bulaga, for example, might have allowed them to address a different position with that 11th overall selection. Fant, however, likely means they still have to address offensive line with that pick. Of course, in this deep wide receiver class the Jets could get a wide receiver on Day Two that can contribute as a rookie, but will that player have an impact like one of the top WRs could with that 11th pick?
A true head-scratcher.