What made the Seattle Seahawks truly great last season wasn't having a few superstars, but the vast depth of talent on the roster. Some players who might be household names on other teams get attention taken from them in the Pacific Northwest by the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
That's completely fine, too, because the organization itself knows how special players such as defensive lineman Byron Murphy II and tight end AJ Barner are. They will also be important pieces to sustained success for head coach Mike Macdonald's team.
Barner was a fourth-round selection in 2024, expected by many to be more of a good blocker than a quality receiver. In reality, he's been both, and he is still getting better in both aspects, too. But to keep improving, he needed to have multiple surgeries this offseason to correct undisclosed injuries.
AJ Barner explains having surgeries so soon after the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl
Barner told the media on Thursday after a session of organized team activities, "Stuff that I've been dealing with for my whole pro career. I'm somebody that, like, no matter how I'm feeling, I'm gonna play, just like a lot of other guys in the locker room...By the time training camp comes around, I'm gonna be ready to go."
Later adding, "Go from winning the Super Bowl, doing the parade, to getting two surgeries the next week...It was awesome to reach that pinnacle (of winning the title), but it's like, 'Alright, now I gotta go back to the woods, go into the dark, and go get ready."
Whatever was ailing Barner certainly didn't keep him from playing. Through two seasons to begin his career, he hasn't missed a game. He had one of his best games in the Super Bowl, too, finishing with four catches on four targets for 54 yards and a touchdown.
For the season, he increased his catches over his previous season from 30 to 52, and his receiving yards from 245 to 519. His raw statistics were not among the best at the tight end position in the NFL, but his value to his team and his fit in the offense are elite.
Plus, Barner should be even better in his third year. The Seattle Seahawks know what they can get from AJ Barner at this point, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury previously worked in a San Francisco 49ers system that makes brilliant use of tight ends. Getting to 70 receptions in 2026 would not be surprising for Barner.
As far as what he expects from himself once he's able to play in real games again, Barner absolutely believes he can be "definitely better, way better. I expect myself to be one of the best tight ends in the league."
Under the direction of Fleury, getting to 70 catches, 800 yards, and close to 10 touchdowns would not be unrealistic numbers for Barner in 2026. He will likely see a lot of one-on-one coverage due to playing next to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The middle of the field could belong to Barner.
He's certainly ready for that level of success. The Seattle Seahawks could use that, too. In fact, Barner could emerge as the team's newest star at just the right time.
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