The Tennessee Titans are reportedly on the verge of doing exactly what many fans wanted them to do, as the team is set to bring in free-agent offensive tackle George Fant for a workout.
According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, Tennessee will host the veteran tackle on Saturday. He notes there’s a “good chance” the Titans sign him, also, although it isn’t clear if that’s his speculation or something else he’s hearing.
Regardless, I agree there is a good chance, as the Titans are in need of a new starting right tackle for at least the first six games after Nicholas Petit-Frere got busted for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Sources: The #Titans are bringing in former #Jets OT George Fant for a workout Saturday. There's a good chance he signs, assuming all goes well. Starting RT Nicholas Petit-Frere is suspended for the first six games this season. pic.twitter.com/NzlvH73xsp
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 19, 2023
Fant, who has expressed interest in joining the Titans, spent the last three years with the New York Jets, appearing in 37 games (36 starts). He has experience playing both right and left tackle.
Here’s some of what we’ve written about him previously:
The Western Kentucky product battled a knee injury in 2022, which forced him to miss nine games. However, prior to last season, Fant had never missed more than two games, with the exception of 2017 when he tore his ACL.
Admittedly, Fant’s blocking numbers weren’t good last season (27 pressures, five sacks allowed, 46.7 pass-blocking grade and 56.3 run-blocking grade in eight games, per Pro Football Focus), but one has to wonder how much his injury issues played a role in that.
As recently as 2021, Fant was much better, posting a 75.1 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 59.9 run-blocking grade while also allowing 18 pressures and three sacks in 15 contests.
To compare, Petit-Frere finished with a 50.0 and 57.0 in pass-blocking and run-blocking, respectively, and he surrendered 35 pressures and five sacks during his rookie season.
If Fant signs and returns to 2021 levels, he has the potential to completely take the job away from NPF, who struggled in his rookie season. He also provides some insurance at left tackle.
