The Seattle Seahawks’ struggle to protect quarterback Russell Wilson has been well-documented. In 2017, their offensive line ranked 25th in pass protection in the NFL according to Football Outsiders, leading to Wilson being sacked 43 times. A closer look reveals Wilson faced a pressure rate of 36.9%, tying for the worst in the league with the Texans and Colts. While not all blame falls on Germain Ifedi, Seattle has not seen the expected performance from the 2016 first-round pick.
In addition to the protection issues, Ifedi led the league with 16 penalties. The Seahawks may now be exploring alternatives at right tackle.
Drafted 31st overall in 2016, Ifedi has not made significant strides in his play from 2016 to 2017. Despite the challenge of giving up on a high draft pick, Ifedi’s performance has not met expectations.
There is hope that Ifedi can benefit from the guidance of new offensive coach Mike Solari, as suggested by veteran left tackle Duane Brown, who noted Ifedi’s growth and anticipated a strong season from him.
Coach Pete Carroll also believes in Ifedi’s potential for another season, emphasizing the additional time spent developing his skills to elevate his performance from the last two seasons.
Given Ifedi’s progress to date, uncertainties remain about the improvements he may bring this season.
