The Seattle Seahawks have undergone big changes this offseason, even after the team surprised by winning 10 games last year.
Still, the team wanted to get younger and improve depth all around. Sam Darnold was brought in to play quarterback after Geno Smith was shipped to Las Vegas. Star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf was also shipped out, landing in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. Veteran receiver Tyler Lockett was cut in a cost-saving move.
In return, the team brought in veteran receivers Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Then, in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team added 11 players, with a class headlined by offensive lineman Grey Zabel, safety Nick Emmanwori, and tight end Elijah Arroyo.
With significant turnover on the roster, it wouldn't be surprising to see even more 2024 contributors get moved before the season begins.
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently identified tight end Noah Fant as the best player that the Seahawks could cut before the regular season. Regarding this potential move, Knox offered the following:
Like the Rams, the Seattle Seahawks dipped into this year's talented rookie tight end pool. They snagged Miami's Elijah Arroyo in the second round, which could ultimately make former starter Noah Fant expendable.
Fant has started 42 games across four seasons for the Seahawks but is now entering a contract year. Seattle used a 2024 fourth-round pick on tight end A.J. Barner and could save $8.9 million by releasing Fant.
As Knox mentioned, Fant has been a reliable pass-catcher for several seasons, but the team made a big addition to the room with Arroyo.
In 2024, Fant caught 48 passes for 500 yards and one touchdown. The veteran finished fourth on the team in both receptions and receiving yards, and seemed to have good chemistry with Smith.
However, with a new quarterback in town, and a promising rookie at his position, it wouldn't be totally surprising to see the team move on from Fant. The tight end has been reliable, but not spectacular in his career, and as Knox pointed out, the team could save almost $9 million by releasing Fant.
In Arroyo, the Seahawks are getting a big-bodied tight end who isn't afraid to block and hardly drops passes. The Miami product caught 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024 and should be a solid red-zone threat at least as a rookie.
Without Fant, the Seahawks could rely on Arroyo and 2024 fourth-rounder A.J. Barner. Barner caught 30 passes as a rookie last season, so it seems likely the Michigan product could handle a larger workload.
There are several teams that could use a veteran tight end, so Fant would likely catch on with another team if the Seahawks do move on.
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