The Seattle Seahawks moved on from Noah Fant earlier this month, releasing the veteran tight end after three underwhelming seasons in the Pacific Northwest.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider, who spoke publicly on Wednesday for the first time since the move, told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob that it was a “pure cap casualty situation.”

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Fant, who came to Seattle in the blockbuster 2022 Russell Wilson trade, had one year left on a two-year, $21 million contract that he signed in 2024. According to OvertheCap.com, he was set to carry a $13.41 million salary cap hit this season, which would have been the second-highest cap hit of any Seahawks player and the eighth-highest of any NFL tight end.

During his three seasons in Seattle, Fant never finished higher than 18th in receiving yards among tight ends.

“We tried to make things work,” Schneider said. “Noah’s awesome. He works his tail off. He can run. He’s a good tight end and he’ll have a very nice, productive year this year.

“We just felt like, in getting back to doing what’s best for the organization, we were at a point where we were just saying to ourselves – unfortunately you have to look at things like this – can we use that cash to help our team in a different manner? And are we OK at that position and are we covered there? And while we never feel like we’re totally covered, guys did have very strong springs.”

Fant’s release came after the Seahawks added tight ends AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo in the past two NFL drafts. Barner had a promising four-touchdown rookie campaign for the Seattle last season, while Arroyo is a rookie second-round pick who led all FBS tight ends in yards per reception at the University of Miami last fall.

The Seahawks also signed veteran blocking tight end Eric Saubert this offseason. In addition, they have a pair of tight ends battling for the fullback job in rookie fifth-round pick Robbie Ouzts and third-year pro Brady Russell. Whoever doesn’t win the fullback job could potentially serve as Seattle’s fourth tight end behind Barner, Arroyo and Saubert.

“Robbie Ouzts fits into that too,” Schneider said of the decision to release Fant. “And we’re going to be dressing a fullback. And then we have Saubert, and those guys are good special teams players. It was just the numbers.”

Schneider also pointed to the risk of Fant sustaining an injury and the Seahawks then being on the hook to pay his entire $8.49 million base salary for 2025.

“We’ve put guys on the field in the past that have unfortunately been injured, and then now they’re counting on your cap at a specific number that you can’t handle,” Schneider said.

“And look, our coaches love Noah. We told Noah that. We told his agent that. It’s just, this was a pure cap casualty situation for us.”

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