The Seattle Seahawks suddenly released Noah Fant on Sunday, two days before veterans report to training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington. The team will have an intense competition for the starting tight end spot between two young players this summer. Highlighting one of the contenders is an athletic rookie.
The Seattle Seahawks selected an ACC star
The Seattle Seahawks drafted former Miami Hurricane Elijah Arroyo 50th overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. After a minimal role in 2021 and battling a knee injury in 2022 and 2023, the athletic tight end broke out in 2024, his final season in Miami, boasting career highs in every receiving category. Arroyo hauled in 35 receptions for 590 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games.
He suffered a knee injury during the Senior Bowl, causing him to miss the NFL Scouting Combine. However, the injury did not deter the Seahawks from selecting him 50th overall and has since recovered.
Also Read: Miami Hurricanes: Star Offensive Weapon Won’t Work Out at Combine
Seattle Seahawks’ promising rookie set for crucial role in Year 1
With Noah Fant gone, Elijah Arroyo will compete for the starting tight end job this summer. Even if the second-round pick does not win the starting competition, he could still position himself for a crucial role in his rookie season, given his extensive route tree and potentially lining up as an X receiver. Mike Macdonald confirmed in May that Arroyo will see the field a lot.
“This guy can run an extensive route tree,” Macdonald said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN. “To have to account for a tight end body on the field and him also to be able to split out wide, do X receiver type of things, bigger body than we probably have right now on our roster, just provides a ton of value. And then he’s going to throw it in there as an actual tight end in line and be able to kind of create some of those bigger personnel formations is the vision that we have for him. So it’s really exciting.”
He will compete against last year’s fourth-round pick
A.J. Barner will also contend for the starting gig. The fourth-round pick from 2024 had a solid rookie season, recording 30 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games, six starts, and 46% of snaps. Given Barner’s skills as a talented run-blocker and having played an NFL season, he could be the early favorite to start while also positioning himself for an increased role in his second season.
