‘That’s a really big deal for us’ – Dan Quinn praises new team addition who could be a roster lock before he even takes the field
Dan Quinn believes the Commanders got lucky.
Anytime Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn speaks highly of a player, I listen to what he says and know that it holds weight.
Quinn had high praise for a newly signed free agent who could possibly be a roster lock already before he even takes a snap for the Commanders. It’s not often that a team can add an experienced offensive tackle at this point in the offseason, but that’s what the Commanders have done by signing George Fant.
Quinn likes what Fant offers
The Commanders signed veteran offensive tackle Fant after a workout a few days ago, and he could make the team thanks to his experience. He’s a former teammate of Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil in Houston as well, so you’re getting an instant connection between the two. Fant has almost split reps between left and right tackle in his career, and he can step in at either spot and the addition is huge according to Quinn.
“The length, obviously for tackle, he looks great,” Quinn told the media. “He had a workout with us last week and then [General Manager] Adam [Peters] was able to finalize all that over the weekend. So, that’s a really big deal for us to add somebody with George’s experience and length at offensive tackle. It’s very, very cool to have somebody with his experience and background and play style and skill, all that. So yeah, we’re really pumped to add him to the crew.”
Why Fant makes the roster
The Commanders have a lot of flexibility up front, but they did need someone who can be a real depth piece at tackle, and that’s what Fant is. Andrew Wylie has moved around the entire line this offseason with all of the injuries going on, but he looks to play right guard with Sam Cosmi still on the PUP list.
As it sits right now, I’d have rookie Josh Conerly Jr. and Trent Scott as the right tackles, Andrew Wylie and Sam Cosmi as the right guards, and Laremy Tunsil holding down left tackle with Fant as his backup. My latest 53-man roster projection has the Commanders keeping ten offensive linemen, and Fant shook things up.
If Quinn praises a player like he did with Fant, then it means something, and I think he could bring his experience and veteran presence to the Commanders as a real backup at tackle if it’s ever needed.