Seahawks GM John Schneider: Aboushi to start out at right guard, Ifedi could move to right tackle

The Seattle Seahawks offensive line is expected to have a different look heading into next season. Apart from Justin Britt remaining at center, where he had the best season of his career, no one else’s starting job is secure.

At the NFL’s annual league meetings in Phoenix, Seahawks GM John Schneider told reporters that recent signing Oday Aboushi, formerly of the Houston Texans, is on course to play right guard in preseason. Where does that leave 2016 first-round pick Germain Ifedi, who played all of his games at RG in his rookie season? According to Schneider, we might be seeing him at right tackle.

“Yeah, there’s a chance,’’ Schneider said (via Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta). “The thing we loved about Ifedi in college was he had played guard, some left tackle, right tackle. We all thought he was a heck of a right tackle. So he’s got the ability to go play both.’’

Seattle’s current starting RT is Garry Gilliam, who was tendered at the minimum value of one-year, $1.797 million, but none of the money is guaranteed. Gilliam’s inconsistent play warranted a benching late last season, but he regained his starting role over Bradley Sowell in the second-half of the team’s 24-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Ifedi played right tackle at Texas A&M, but it’s not like the Seahawks already don’t have a history of drafting guys who ultimately end up playing a different position on the line. James Carpenter was Alabama’s left tackle before he became Seattle’s left guard, Justin Britt was drafted as a right tackle, and you know the story from there.

Schneider later had some interesting tidbits on why the Seahawks were interested and ultimately acquired Aboushi.

“Just all these different reports people throw at you, he was just really efficient,’’ Schneider said. “And so he just stood out. With all the analytic stuff we do, it’s kind of about asking more questions and going back to the film, and that’s what we did with him and just talking to a bunch of people that he has been with just led us to a really good place with him. Came in that day (March 17) and had a great visit and we have a good relationship with his agent (Brian Mackler, whose firm also represents current Seahawks Cliff Avril and Justin Britt, among others) and he was ready to roll, so he wanted to do it.’’

While Aboushi’s role with the team seems pretty clear-cut, Schneider was non-committal as to whether Luke Joeckel will supplant George Fant at left tackle, or play at left guard, a spot currently held down by Mark Glowinski. Schneider did remark that they believed Joeckel, “played a little bit better at guard last year.”