Seahawks release former first-round TE before training camp

Fant was drafted in the first round in 2019 by the Denver Broncos. He arrived in Seattle via trade a few seasons afterward. In his three years with the Seahawks, Fant was a consistent presence in the offense, appearing in 48 games with 42 starts. During his time with the team, he totaled 130 catches for 1,400 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Decent production, but clearly not enough to lead the room. 

While Fant’s departure does open up some cap space, it also opens the door for a changing of the guard at the tight end position. The team appears to be committed to giving younger players a chance to play, such as AJ Barner and rookie Elijah Arroyo. Barner, now in his second season, had decent production in his rookie year, with 30 receptions for 245 yards. He also showed solid play as a blocker. 

The team also added Arroyo in this year’s draft. Arroyo recently signed his rookie deal and possesses a unique skill set that could significantly enhance this offense. Arroyo is a receiving threat who can work downfield and pose a threat to the seams. Pair him alongside shifty wideouts like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, and now the offense becomes quite difficult to defend. 

Fant’s release may come as a bit of a surprise to some fans, especially given his name value and draft status, but it does align with the Seahawks' strategy of building around younger, cheaper talent. As training camp nears, the team will be closely watching the tight end room to see who can step up and lead the room. For now, Seattle is ready to turn the page and invest in the next wave of talent.