The Seattle Seahawks released veteran tight end Noah Fant on Sunday prior to the start of training camp this week.
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The move comes after an underwhelming past three seasons for Fant, whose production never quite matched his salary after he arrived in Seattle as part of the 2022 Russell Wilson trade.
Fant, 27, had one year left on a two-year, $21 million contract that he signed in 2024. He was set to carry a $13.41 million salary cap hit this season, which would have been the second-highest on the team behind star defensive lineman Leonard Williams, according to OvertheCap.com.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pound Fant had been regarded as a potential salary-cap casualty or trade chip this offseason, especially after the Seahawks used a second-round draft pick this spring on Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo, who has a similar profile to Fant as a field-stretching receiving weapon.
The Seahawks save $8.91 million in salary cap space by releasing Fant, while taking on a $4.5 million dead cap hit, per OTC.
Fant, a 2019 first-round pick by Denver, totaled 1,905 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches in 47 games over his first three seasons with the Broncos. He finished sixth among NFL tight ends in receiving yards in 2020 and 10th in 2021.
But in Seattle, Fant’s production dropped. He totaled 1,400 receiving yards and five TDs in 48 games over his three seasons with the Seahawks, while never ranking higher than 18th among tight ends in receiving yards.
Fant’s release leaves Arroyo and second-year pro AJ Barner as Seattle’s top two tight ends.
The 6-foot-5, 254-pound Arroyo has a rare level of speed and athleticism for his size, which was on full display last fall at the University of Miami. He totaled 35 catches for 590 yards and seven TDs during his breakout 2024 campaign with the Hurricanes, while leading all FBS tight ends with 16.9 yards per reception.
Barner, a 2024 fourth-round pick out of Michigan, had a productive rookie season last year. He caught 30 passes for 245 yards and four TDs, while ranking 36th out of 74 tight ends in Pro Football Focus run block grading.
Fant’s release is also good news for several other Seahawks tight ends who will be vying for roster spots – including eight-year veteran Eric Saubert, undrafted rookie Nick Kallerup and whoever doesn’t win the fullback competition between rookie fifth-round pick Robbie Ouzts and third-year pro Brady Russell.
Saubert spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers, ranking 19th out of 74 tight ends in PFF run block grading. He also has previous experience with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, having spent the 2022 season in Denver when Kubiak was on the Broncos’ offensive coaching staff.
The 6-foot-5, 266-pound Kallerup, one of Seattle’s most intriguing undrafted rookies, posted the second-best run block grade of any FBS tight end last year during his final season at the University of Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Ouzts and Russell are expected to battle for the fullback role, which the Seahawks are adding to their offense this season under Kubiak. Both players are in the process of converting from tight end to fullback, so whoever doesn’t win the fullback job could also be in the mix at tight end.
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