One might find it easy to forget that the Seattle Seahawks chose tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the 2025 draft. Being that high of a selection, a player is expected to make a true long-term impact on his team. As a rookie, Arroyo didn't do that. In his second season, that narrative might drastically change.
Last year, the tight end played in 13 games, but he only had 15 catches, one for a touchdown. In 26 targets, he was only credited with one drop, so when he had a chance to catch the ball, he did. Those chances were few, though, and fans might have wondered if the 6'5" and 255-pound Arroyo could turn college promise into NFL production.
Being a rookie is difficult, especially at a position that needs several aspects to go correctly for the player to perform well. Arroyo couldn't just be a receiver, after all; he needed to prove he could be a force as a blocker, too.
Elijah Arroyo appears to be on the verge of being a scary target for the Seattle Seahawks
He might still need to prove that, but in 2026 training camp so far, he has been arguably the Seahawks player who has stood out the most. This wasn't just early in camp, either. Every practice that goes by seems to be an opportunity for the young tight end to star.
He has caught a touchdown pass by tip-toeing in the end zone and another by overpowering his defender. Arroyo has also shown improved route-running, so he clearly did some studying and drills this past offseason and is beginning to translate that into efficiency against his Seattle teammates, many of whom are elite defenders.
If Arroyo can excel against the Seattle Seahawks defense, he should be able to do so against almost any defense. That is the hope, obviously. His connection with quarterback Sam Darnold appears to be growing, too.
ESPN's Brady Henderson wrote of Arroyo, "It's one thing to make plays like that in a noncontact spring practice, when pass catchers tend to shine because defenders aren't fully contesting throws. Arroyo is doing it in the more realistic setting of training camp. Can he continue to do it when the games begin?"
Seattle's new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, comes from a system with the San Francisco 49ers that involved its tight ends exceedingly well. George Kittle is among the best players at the position, for instance. To make Fleury's scheme run at peak efficiency, the tight ends need to be talented and productive.
12s can assume AJ Barner will be a great fit in the new offense, but it could be Elijah Arroyo, a wide receiver in a tight end's body, who could see the greatest increase in production. He likely could turn into the latest Seahawks weapon that opposing defensive coordinators are scared of.
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