George Fant said Friday heā€™s focused on football and not a contract extension with the New York Jets, but the left tackle did add that he wants ā€œto be taken care of.ā€

Fant is in the final season of a three-year, $27.3 million contract he signed after playing his first three NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Heā€™s also the newly minted starting left tackle, which could up the price tag on his next deal since tackles who protect the quarterbackā€™s blind side typically are paid more than those on the other side.

It was expected that George Fant and Mekhi Becton would compete for the left tackle spot in training camp, but coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that wouldnā€™t be the case. Fant will retain the spot he moved into after Becton sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 last season. Becton, who showed up to camp healthy and in excellent shape, will play right tackle for the first time in his three-year professional career.

Each lineman downplayed the decision, and Saleh pointed to Fant being more comfortable on the left side as a big reason for the current plan. The Jets coach elaborated FridayĀ why Fant earned the spot.

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ā€œConsistency. Trust,ā€ Saleh said in listing Fantā€™s attributes. ā€œHe is athletic. He can do a lot of different things and he can do all of the things we want him to do. He went out in that left tackle spot and he played consistently, he didnā€™t give up much pressure and was good in the run game.ā€

Fantā€™s athleticism is maximized in the Jets' zone blocking scheme. The former college basketball player (6-foot-5, 322 pounds) who has played football for seven years allowed one sack last season.

ā€œItā€™s not the first time Iā€™ve been in this offense before, a style like this,ā€ Fant explained. ā€œIt just fits me, getting up on people quick, playing with athletic ability, getting to where I get to on the field, getting to a spot before defenders. It just fits, makes it a little easier for me.ā€

Fant, who played 15 games last season, is still recovering from a knee injury. Saleh explained that Fant has been doing everything except team drills in training camp and is hopeful that he will return to full workouts sometime next week when the pads come on.

No one is saying when a contract extension will likely be worked out. For now, itā€™s just about football. Though George Fant made his point Friday about getting paid.