The Seattle Seahawks won their second preseason game Friday evening, but it came at a cost. Left tackle George Fant suffered a knee injury that Pete Carroll later described as a torn ACL. Rees Odhiambo took his place in the game.
The Seahawks are going to be in the market for a left tackle, and there are not a lot of options in free agency. Branden Albert is available after retiring, un-retiring, and then getting released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In reality, they would likely need to swing a trade if they want to find a viable option.
Seattle is a playoff contender, with a chance to compete for a Super Bowl, but they need to keep Russell Wilson on his feet, while also opening up the running game. The Seahawks offensive line has been a mess, and losing their left tackle only make things worse.
I have already seen some people suggesting the Seahawks give the 49ers a call about Joe Staley. On the one hand, the 49ers are not going to be contending for the Super Bowl this year, and they could potentially get a serious return for Staley. On the other hand, the offense has some pieces that could take steps forward, and having a significant veteran plugged in on the left side will bring much-needed stability.
I don’t expect the 49ers to deal Staley unless they were thoroughly overwhelmed by an offer. Staley is not a long-term building block, but as the team transitions into this new era, he is an important piece.