While the Jets’ first move of the legal tampering wasn’t a flashy one, it was one that needed to be made.

With Joe Thuney and Brandon Scherff franchise tagged by the Patriots and Redskins, respectively, and Jack Conklin and Graham Glasgow signing elsewhere, the Jets needed to add to their offensive line. In came George Fant.

Joe Douglas opted to sign the former Seahawks swing tackle to a three-year deal worth $27.3 million. The Jets can get out of the deal after one-year, so it’s essentially a one-year deal, worth $9.25 million.

Fant is a bit of an enigma. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 62nd-ranked tackle last year among those that played 20 percent of snaps. However, he’s young, versatile and coming off a season in which he was successful in limited opportunities. Clearly, the Jets are banking on his potential after missing out on their top targets.

With that said, let’s get to know the Jets’ latest addition to the offensive line.

Basketball Background

George Fant had a four-year standout basketball career at Western Kentucky University before transitioning to football.

Throughout his first four years at Western Kentucky, Fant was urged to join the school’s football team, but he refused. He received multiple letters from NFL teams trying to gauge his interest in 2015, but he tossed the letters away.

Fant used his fifth year of collegiate eligibility to play football after weighing his options after college. He joined the Western Kentucky football team to play tight end, where he played one season. He appeared in two games with one reception for seven yards on offense and a pair of tackles on defense.

Following the 2015 season, Fant bulked up, going from 270 pounds to 296 pounds, and become an offensive lineman. He wound up impressing the Seahawks front office at the Hilltoppers’ pro day.