The Seahawks selected Miami\u2019s Elijah Arroyo<\/a> in the second round with the No. 50 overall pick, making the 22 year old Arroyo the fourth-highest drafted tight end in Seahawks history.<\/p>\n Of all the positions on the field, tight end is one the Seahawks haven\u2019t had many difference-makers at during their history.<\/p>\n Jimmy Graham is the Seahawks\u2019 all-time leader in all three major receiving categories for tight ends with 170 receptions for 2,048 yards and 18 TDs during his three seasons with the team. And Graham wasn\u2019t all that well received as a Seahawk.<\/p>\n Perhaps Arroyo will be the one to break Seattle\u2019s tight end curse. According to Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former Seattle wide receiver Michael Bumpus<\/a>, Arroyo has the skill set of a potential difference-maker in the passing game.<\/p>\n \u201cThe movement in his body is second to none,\u201d Bumpus said during Seattle Sports\u2019 draft coverage. \u201cThe way he dips his shoulder down and runs the seam and chops his feet, it\u2019s beautiful to watch him play, man. It\u2019s just the movement. It\u2019s just the new-age tight end that we\u2019re seeing, like the (Colston) Loveland type that\u2019s a complete route runner. Tight ends weren\u2019t really route runners (in the past), they were just space occupiers. Like, get to that space and I\u2019ll throw you the football because you\u2019re a big target.<\/p>\n \u201cBut this young man does it all. He\u2019s smooth, he\u2019s fast. I really like this pick for these guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Arroyo is said to need work on his ability as blocker. But as former NFL offensive lineman and Seahawks Radio Network analyst Ray Roberts<\/a> pointed out, his pass-catching skill set can still provide a needed boost in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak\u2019s scheme, which frequently uses multiple tight ends.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they play with two or three tight ends, not every dude is going to be a big, bruising blocker,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cYou need someone that can do some damage catching the ball on that second level, that intermediate level. He looks like he can get out wide and take advantage of some mismatches with his size and things \u2013 he looks fast enough. You got to have at least one dude in there that can do that type of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n An ominous sign for another TE?<\/p>\n Arroyo joins a tight end room that includes veteran Noah Fant, 2024 draft pick AJ Barner and Eric Saubert.<\/p>\n Bumpus pointed out that the pick of Arroyo could indicate one of the other tight ends may not be back next season. That tight end might be Fant, who was the player comparison brought up on the screen during ESPN\u2019s draft coverage when Arroyo was selected.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they started bringing in 5-11, 195(-pound) slot (receivers), I knew my time was probably going to be short here unless I beat that guy out,\u201d Bumpus said of his own NFL experience. \u201cThey bring in a guy that has your profile, you\u2019re in direct competition with him. I\u2019m not saying (Fant) is out, but they brought in a tight end that plays the game that you play.\u201d<\/p>\n Fant had 48 catches for 500 yards and one TD last season. He was on the field for 63.5% of the snaps in the 14 games he played last season, yet he carries the second-highest salary-cap hit of any Seahawk in 2025 at roughly $13.4 million, according to OverTheCap.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on production, that doesn\u2019t make a whole ton of sense,\u201d Wyman and Bob co-host Bob Stelton<\/a> said.<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Seahawks and NFL Draft<\/p>\n \u2022 Why Big Ray is big fan of Seattle Seahawks\u2019 top pick Grey Zabel<\/a>![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745890034_795_hqdefault.jpg\")
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\u2022 Brock: Seattle Seahawks had \u2018one of the best\u2019 drafts<\/a>
\u2022 See the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 2025 UDFA additions<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Rost: Seattle Seahawks\u2019 exciting draft picks have one thing in common<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0What experts are saying about the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 NFL Draft class<\/a><\/p>\n
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