Seattle Seahawks rookies are set to report to training camp on July 15, with veterans close behind them on July 23. As rookies across the NFL report for duty, the entire league is dealing with an issue that is basically unprecedented under the new CBA.
Houston Texans second-round pick Jayden Higgins received the first fully guaranteed contract for any second-round pick under the new CBA, and agents are now fighting for their guys to get the same. As a result, all but two second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft class remain unsigned (Browns LB Carson Schwesinger is the other).
This actually affects the Seahawks pretty drastically, as they have multiple second-round picks not yet under contract, including arguably the guy at the top of the list still holding things up, safety Nick Emmanwori. Emmanwori is the highest second-rounder yet unsigned, but the Seahawks also selected Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo with the 50th overall pick.
Unless the dominoes start falling soon, Arroyo being unsigned could pave the way for another recent Seahawks draft pick to entrench himself on the depth chart ahead of him.
AJ Barner could steal more reps of Elijah Arroyo misses time at Seahawks camp
Again, this is an issue facing the entire league right now. The Seahawks are in a transition phase in multiple ways offensively, with Sam Darnold coming in to run the show at quarterback and Klint Kubiak taking over as the offensive coordinator for Ryan Grubb.
Arroyo is obviously an exciting potential weapon in the passing game, but Barner showed some glimpses during his rookie year that shouldn't just be written off by a new coaching staff. Out of his 30 receptions last season, 18 went for first downs, and four of them went for touchdowns. Barner was effective when targeted and might even be a sleeper to take TE1 duties before the end of the season.
Noah Fant's name was casually thrown out there on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft by NFL Network as a possible trade candidate, and those talks probably won't die down as teams look to assemble their rosters and upgrade at that position.
The Seahawks also used a fifth-round pick on Robbie Ouzts this year, and he could be an interesting player to file away as a fullback/tight end hybrid to watch throughout training camp.
Seattle's front office and coaching staff have every reason to be excited about their depth at tight end heading into this season, and a player like Barner may have been prematurely written off by some with the drafting of Arroyo.
If he's not out there on the practice field as NFL teams struggle to get guys signed, it could end up being a golden opportunity for Barner to show this new offensive staff that he needs to be a mainstay in the lineup.