The Seattle Seahawks made a bold move before training camp got started by releasing veteran tight end Noah Fant shortly after the front office finally managed to sign second-round pick, Elijah Arroyo.
Naturally, that move puts a lot of pressure on the rookie out of Miami. Clearly, the Seahawks were confident enough in what he showcased throughout OTAs and minicamps to make such a move.
But now that training camp is underway, it’s time for players like Arroyo to make a statement on the field. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound receiving threat wasted no time, snagging a sideline catch as new quarterback Sam Darnold rolled out to his left at Seattle’s first practice on Wednesday.
Elijah Arroyo is wasting no time making his case at Seahawks training camp
Light work for @arroyo_elijah36.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 24, 2025
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The body control for a man of Arroyo’s stature and speed to get both feet in bounds with the slide is mightily impressive, not to mention the savvy instinct to do so.
With Fant out of the picture, Arroyo is sure to have a significant role in Seattle’s offense. That’s likely to come in a variety of ways. He has the speed and athleticism to line up out wide and the size and route-running ability to be productive in the slot. Showing that he can make plays all over the field is what will lead to plenty of targets from Darnold this season.
Of course, Arroyo won’t be alone at tight end. AJ Barner, a third-round pick last year, will pick up the in-line duties. He’s not too bad as a receiver either. In his rookie season, he caught 30 passes for 245 yards and four scores.
The passing game in Seattle needs an extra spark, especially with the volatility of Darnold at quarterback. He may have finally produced a breakout season in Minnesota last year, but even with the receiving talent in Seattle, he won’t have a Justin Jefferson-level talent to lean on.
Still, if talents like Arroyo can be reliable options, the offense should improve with Darnold compared to what Geno Smith offered.
Last year, the Seahawks targeted their top two tight ends 114 times, which ranked around the middle of the pack in the NFL. With Arroyo showcasing a promising skillset early on in training camp, it’s a wonder if that target share might increase this season with more talent at the position overall.