HEADLINES

Germain Ifedi

Bills To Sign OT Germain Ifedi

August 29th, 2023 at 8:12pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills have added some veteran depth to their offensive line. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Bills are expected to sign offensive tackle Germain Ifedi. The organization worked out Ifedi earlier today.

[RELATED: Bills To Release T David Quessenberry, G Ike Boettger]

Ifedi was a first-round pick by the Seahawks in 2016 and proceeded to spend four years in Seattle, starting all 65 of his appearances (regular season and playoffs). He became a free agent in 2020 after the Seahawks declined his fifth-year option.

He caught on with the Bears, where he proceeded to get into 25 games (23 starts) across two seasons with the organization. He joined the Falcons last offseason and got into all 17 games without a start, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He signed with the Lions earlier this offseason but was cut by the organization this week.

While Ifedi barely played on the offensive line in 2022, he graded out as an above-average lineman as recently as 2021, per Pro Football Focus. That season, the site gave him particularly high marks for his pass-blocking ability, a skill that’s been a theme throughout his career.

It seemed inevitable that the Bills would add some offensive line depth. Brandon Shell was placed on the reserve/retired list during training camp, and Tommy Doyle has since suffered a season-ending injury. Then, the organization made the surprising move today when they let go of David Quessenberry, who was the organization’s primary swing tackle last season.

Lions Cut 11 Players Prior To Deadline

August 27th, 2023 at 10:33pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions made a big move on the road that eventually leads to a 53-man roster today, tweeting out that they have parted ways with 11 players.

Released:

Waived:

The losses of Hart and Ifedi seem like fairly large blows to the offensive line, but the Lions are set to return four of last year’s five starting offensive linemen in Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, and Jonah Jackson. The fifth spot will be re-filled by Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed last season due to injury but started at right guard the previous two years. Detroit is absolutely set on their starting five offensive linemen. Hart and Ifedi could’ve likely provided strong depth, but with both at 29 years old, they should land on their feet and perhaps find starting opportunities like they’ve had in the past.

Lions To Add OL Germain Ifedi

May 23rd, 2023 at 5:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions are adding another offensive line depth piece. They are signing veteran Germain Ifedi, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The Falcons released Ifedi last week.

Despite re-signing with Atlanta earlier this offseason, Ifedi received his walking papers shortly after the draft. The former first-round pick will return to the NFC North, doing so during an offseason in which the Lions already added one of their former starters — Graham Glasgow — to the mix.

While Glasgow is an interior lineman, Ifedi has worked mostly at right tackle during his time as a pro. The Lions have Penei Sewell entrenched at that position. Ifedi, 29 next month, has also seen some time at guard as a pro. He will likely compete for a swing role for the Lions, who return most of their starting offensive line from last season.

Ifedi previously spent two seasons, the 2020 and ’21 campaigns, in the division as a member of the Bears. The seven-year veteran started at both guard and right tackle in Chicago during that span. For his career, the Texas A&M product has made 83 starts. Though, none of those came last season. Ifedi suited up for all 17 Falcons games but did not start any. The team enjoyed good health at tackle in 2022 and re-signed right-sider Kaleb McGary this offseason.

Upon drafting Ifedi 31st overall in 2016, the Seahawks made him a fixture at right tackle during the late 2010s. While Ifedi never emerged as an upper-echelon performer at that position, he has been a starter for four playoff teams (three in Seattle, one in Chicago. Pro Football Focus graded Ifedi as a top-40 tackle during his 2020 season in Chicago, his last as a full-season starter, but has not slotted him inside the top 60 in any other year.

The Lions return Sewell, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Jonah Jackson from their starting O-line. Multiyear sub Evan Brown signed with the Seahawks, but the Lions are hoping to have Halapoulivaati Vaitai back after a lost 2022 season due to injury. Glasgow represents competition for the veteran guard, who agreed to a reduced contract this offseason. Ifedi will offer Detroit a backup option at both tackle and guard.

Falcons Release OL Germain Ifedi

May 16th, 2023 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Germain Ifedi played 17 Falcons games last season and re-signed with the team in March. But the former first-round pick is back in free agency. The Falcons released Ifedi on Tuesday.

Making room for UDFAs, the Falcons are moving on after one season. Ifedi has five seasons’ worth of full-time starter experience, working in that capacity for the Seahawks and Bears during his seven-year career. The Falcons had guaranteed Ifedi $153K on a one-year, $1.3MM deal. As a vested veteran, Ifedi will avoid the waiver wire.

The Falcons initially signed Ifedi last year, adding him during the same offseason in which fellow ex-Bears Eddie Goldman and Damien Williams joined the team. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot formed a Bears pipeline of sorts, having added longtime Chicago GM Ryan Pace to his front office. Both Williams and Ifedi are now gone.

Falcons OC Dave Ragone also worked with Ifedi in Chicago. The four-year Seahawks right tackle starter ended up with the Bears in 2020 and worked as a 16-game starter for the playoff-bound team that season. The Bears gave Ifedi two one-year contracts. After his full-year starter run in 2020, Ifedi started seven games in 2021 but missed eight contests due to injury. With a new Bears regime taking over in 2022, Ifedi headed elsewhere.

Ifedi, 28, did not see a major role with the Falcons. Despite suiting up for every Atlanta game, he only logged eight offensive snaps. Neither Jake Matthews nor Kaleb McGary missed a game. The Falcons have brought back McGary, re-signing the former first-round pick in March, but the team is lighter on swing-tackle options with Ifedi off the roster. Ifedi has 83 career starts on his resume and has lined up as a first-stringer — at both guard and right tackle — for four playoff teams. Like ex-Texas A&M teammate Cedric Ogbuehi, who signed with the Dolphins a week after a Jets release, Ifedi should be expected he will have another opportunity soon.

After adding UDFAs on Monday, the Falcons announced the addition of quarterback Austin Aune. A North Texas product, Aune will join QBs Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke and Logan Woodside on Atlanta’s offseason roster.

Falcons Re-Sign T Germain Ifedi

March 22nd, 2023 at 5:13pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons have agreed to a new deal with veteran offensive tackle Germain Ifedi, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Ifedi signed a one-year deal to remain in Atlanta as a quality depth piece for the offensive line.

Ifedi signed with the Falcons last year at the end of a two-year stint in Chicago. Ifedi was coming off a knee injury that had landed him on injured reserve for most of his last season with the Bears. He had started 2021 as a starter in Chicago, but shortly after his return from IR, Ifedi found himself on the bench to end the season.

He picked up in Atlanta where he had left off in Chicago. Ifedi had started all 60 games he appeared in with his original team in Seattle at either right guard or right tackle. When he got to Atlanta, the Falcons had pretty much solidified their starters at both positions with Chris Lindstrom at guard and Kaleb McGary at tackle. Because of their presence, Ifedi found himself playing mostly on special teams and coming off the bench if playing on offense at all.

Lindstrom and McGary were both set to hit the free agent market after contract years, and both players had career seasons last year. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), McGary graded out as the fourth-best tackle in the NFL last year. While that’s hard to beat, Lindstrom did just that, not only grading as the league’s best guard in 2022 but ending the season with the highest offensive grade of any lineman in the NFL. This resulted in both players getting new contracts with McGary on a new three-year deal and Lindstrom signing a five-year extension.

With those two remaining in place, Ifedi is expected to reprise his role from last season. Expect Ifedi to provide the Falcons with a special teams lineman and an experienced veteran ready to fill in for Lindstrom or McGary at a moment’s notice.

Falcons Sign Germain Ifedi

April 6th, 2022 at 12:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after visiting the Falcons, offensive linemen Germain Ifedi has indeed joined the team. Atlanta announced on Wednesday that they have signed the veteran to a one-year contract. 

Ifedi met with the Falcons less than two weeks ago, so this move doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The 27-year-old was a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016. In four seasons there, he started all 60 games he appeared in. He manned both the right guard and right tackle spots, but never graded out well in terms of PFF ratings.

Ifedi then signed with the Bears two years ago. The first of his campaigns in the Windy City saw his best performance to date, as he played every snap and earned a PFF grade of 65. Availability became a problem for the first time in his career in 2021, however; a knee injury helped limit him to seven starts and nine games played. Just like in Seattle, Ifedi spent time at both guard and tackle.

By signing in Atlanta, the Texas A&M alum becomes the fifth ex-Bear to join the Falcons. The team’s starters at the RG and RT spots – Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary, respectively – are each under contract for one more season. Ifedi could, at a minimum, provide experienced depth at each position for the 2022 campaign and perhaps earn himself an extended stay with his play there.

Falcons Host OL Germain Ifedi

March 24th, 2022 at 4:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Germain Ifedi is still looking for his next home, and the veteran offensive lineman may have a chance to continue his career in Atlanta. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the Falcons hosted the offensive lineman on a visit today.

Ifedi spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he was originally recruited by former Bears GM (and current Falcons executive) Ryan Pace. The lineman started 23 of his 25 games during his time with the Bears, spending time at guard in 2020 before shifting to right tackle in 2021 following the release of Bobby Massie.

Ifedi missed a chunk of the 2021 season with a knee injury, and after starting the first two games following his return, he was demoted to special teams for Chicago’s final two contests.

The offensive lineman was a first-round pick by the Seahawks in 2016, and he ended up starting all 60 of his games during his four seasons with the team. His fifth-year option was ultimately declined, leading to him inking a one-year deal with Chicago in 2020.

Minor NFL Transactions:  12/20/21

December 20th, 2021 at 8:15am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

  • Promoted: OL Jacob Capra

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Washington Football Team

  • Promoted: OT Sam Cosmi

Minor NFL Transactions:  12/16/21

December 16th, 2021 at 8:13am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

  • Placed on IR: LB Ronnie Perkins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Wes Martin
  • Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper

New York Jets

Washington Football Team

Bears Place OL Germain Ifedi On IR

October 13th, 2021 at 12:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears will be without one of their offensive line starters going forward. They moved Germain Ifedi to IR, knocking the veteran blocker out for at least three games.

A knee injury sustained late in the first half Sunday sidelined Ifedi, moving Elijah Wilkinson into Chicago’s lineup. That arrangement will likely continue beginning Sunday. Ifedi is not expected to miss the rest of the season, per Matt Nagy. The Bears also placed outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu on IR. Attaochu suffered a torn pec, which will end his season.

Ifedi has started all 21 games he has played for the Bears. The former first-round pick came over after an underwhelming Seahawks tenure, but the Texas A&M product has proven dependable in Chicago. Ifedi slid to guard last season, but after the Bears released Bobby Massie this offseason, Ifedi moved back to the right tackle spot he played in Seattle. The Bears’ upcoming stretch — against the Packers, 49ers and Buccaneers — stands to test Ifedi’s replacement.

Wilkinson signed with the Bears this offseason but could not win the starting right tackle job out of camp. The Bears are already without their preferred left tackle, rookie Teven Jenkins, but the team does roster Jason Peters on the left side. Wilkinson did serve as a plug-and-play option in Denver, being the Broncos’ primary right tackle in 2019 and adding seven more starts to his resume in place of the oft-absent Ja’Wuan James last season.

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