Seahawks offensive tackle George Fant has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender, while defensive end Quinton Jefferson has signed his original round RFA tender, according to the NFL’s transaction wire.
A collegiate basketball player with only one year of NCAA football experience (which came as a tight end), Fant went undrafted in 2016 but still managed to start 10 games during his rookie campaign in Seattle. A torn ACL cost Fant the 2017 season, but he rebounded to appear in all 16 games and play 35% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps in 2018.
Fant, who will now collect a $3.095MM base salary next year, graded out well in 2018, with Pro Football Focus ranking him as the No. 26 offensive tackle among 80 qualifiers. While he won’t be locked in as a starter heading into next season, Fant could compete with former fist-round pick Germain Ifedi for playing time at right tackle.
In addition to Fant and Jefferson, the Seahawks have also re-signed the following exclusive rights free agents:
- LB Austin Calitro
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- C Joey Hunt
- DE Branden Jackson
- S Shalom Luani
- RB J.D. McKissic
- WR David Moore
- LS Tyler Ott
- CB Kalan Reed
- G Jordan Simmons