Jason Moore said the Seahawks cutting Noah Fant is a direct vote of confidence in rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo. Moore stressed that Seattle spent the 50th overall pick on Arroyo, called him a "potential future star," and noted that he flashed at the Senior Bowl despite two injury-plagued college seasons. Moore added that Arroyo’s 35-590-7 receiving line in his final year at Miami showcased the vertical, wide-receiver traits Seattle’s staff wants in its pass-catching tight end. Clearing Fant’s $9 million salary signals the organization is ready to give Arroyo immediate routes and red-zone work, making him a late-round dynasty and best-ball upside swing with TE1 overall snaps now within reach.

PPRTyler said Elijah Arroyo is the Seattle tight end he wants to draft over both rookie AJ Barner and veteran Cade Otton. Tyler pointed out that Seattle coaches have already talked about moving Arroyo out to the X-receiver spot, something they have not mentioned with Barner. That versatility plus Arroyo’s reputation as a sound blocker keeps him on the field for every personnel grouping. Tyler added that the Seahawks invested meaningful draft capital in Arroyo—enough to suggest an early role—and noted the overall ceiling of the offense: new OC he still trusts, Sam Darnold finished as a top-10 fantasy QB last year, and there is a plausible scenario where Arroyo becomes the team’s No. 2 target behind DK Metcalf. By comparison, Cade Otton “did nothing when everyone was healthy” in Tampa and the Bucs have since added even more receivers, shrinking Otton’s weekly upside. The combination of immediate playing-time track and greater pass-game upside makes Arroyo a late-round best-ball swing Tyler is actively pushing up into the 170s overall ADP range.

Jim Coventry views second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo (going off the board around TE35) as an immediate contributor because Seattle’s roster almost mandates heavy two-tight-end usage. After Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the wide-receiver depth chart is aging (Cooper Kupp) or inconsistent (Marquez Valdes-Scantling). Arroyo is a pure pass catcher who rarely blocks, which is acceptable because the Seahawks need outlets for Sam Darnold’s quick release behind a shaky offensive line. Coventry expects Arroyo to run a high number of routes from day one and rack up cheap PPR points, giving him a realistic path to low-end TE1 weeks despite the modest draft capital required.

Greg Brainos said Elijah Arroyo is the only Seattle tight end he is drafting. Brainos pointed to Clint Kubiak’s use of Juwan Johnson last year—25% slot rate and a team-high 1.94 yards per route from tight ends—as the template Arroyo could steal. Seahawks coaches have already labeled Arroyo their "vertical threat," and camp footage shows him running seam routes that Noah Fant rarely saw under Shane Waldron. Although Arroyo carries an injury history, Brainos thinks the big-play profile pairs perfectly with Geno Smith’s willingness to push intermediate seams, making Arroyo a live late-round dart in best ball and TE-premium formats.

Sam Monson said Elijah Arroyo could be an immediate mismatch piece for Seattle because of his top-end speed and polished receiving chops. Monson noted that Arroyo was once talked about as a potential top-10 talent on pure tape before a string of injuries limited his resume. The Seahawks coaching staff even told reporters they view him as good enough to line up as an X-receiver, not just a tight end. That suggests a big-slot usage tree similar to how Kyle Shanahan deploys Deebo Samuel, but with tight-end eligibility for fantasy. Monson warned Arroyo is a below-average blocker, yet he still expects Shane Waldron to keep him off the line and treat him as a vertical seam/slot threat. The combination of rare athletic traits, positional flexibility and a wide-open depth chart behind Noah Fant makes Arroyo a viable late-round Best-Ball dart and dynasty stash if you are hunting for upside at a barren tight-end position.

Theo Gremminger compared Elijah Arroyo to Terrence Ferguson as a tight-end-premium target but prefers Arroyo after hearing Seattle’s staff wonder aloud in their post-draft press conference if the rookie could "straight-up play X" in the league. Gremminger loved Arroyo’s Senior Bowl tape—highlighting seam-stretching routes and high-point prowess the Seahawks currently lack—and views the landing spot as perfect for immediate down-field targets from Geno Smith. Although Arroyo slid into Round 3, Seattle’s coaching staff publicly emphasized his vertical ability and unique build, suggesting he will see schemed shots rather than the slow rookie ramp most tight ends endure. That blend of draft signal, open depth chart, and explosive usage makes Arroyo a high-ceiling stash in tight-end-premium dynasty leagues.