The Seattle Seahawks are trying to make up for the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak this offseason. But Kubiak’s departure wasn’t bad news for every single Seahawks player. In fact, the switch to new OC Brian Fleury could even be good news for players such as tight end Elijah Arroyo.
That’s what SB Nation’s Field Gulls’ Alexandre Castro argued Saturday.
Castro placed Arroyo at the top of a list of four Seahawks players “who could benefit most under” Fleury.
“If there is one player whose skill set seems tailor-made for Fleury’s background, it’s tight end Elijah Arroyo,” wrote Castro.
“Long before becoming Seattle’s offensive coordinator, Fleury built his reputation coaching tight ends. Throughout his NFL career, he worked with a wide variety of players at the position, helping maximize both traditional in-line blockers and athletic receiving threats.
“Arroyo falls firmly into the latter category.
“His combination of speed, burst, and movement skills gives him a profile unlike any other tight end currently on Seattle’s roster.”
The Seahawks selected Arroyo at No. 50 overall during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he posted 15 catches, 179 receiving yards and one touchdown in 13 games.
How TE Elijah Arroyo Could Benefit From New Seahawks OC
GettySB Nation’s Field Gulls’ Alexandre Castro named tight end Elijah Arroyo the biggest winner of the switch to offensive coordinator Brian Fleury
Seattle’s No. 2 receiver in terms of catches was tight end AJ Barner last season. Barner was second for the Seahawks with 52 receptions despite playing through multiple injuries.
A healthy Barner could make a bigger impact for the Seahawks this fall. Yet, Castro still sees Arroyo as potentially benefitting from Fleury’s system more than any other player.
In 2024, Arroyo averaged 16.9 yards per reception with seven touchdowns while playing for the Miami Hurricanes. Arroyo has the athleticism and versatility to make that kind of impact for the Seahawks, according to Castro.
And in Fleury’s offense, there could be plenty of opportunities for both Barner and Arroyo to make significant impacts.
“The modern NFL increasingly values tight ends who can stress defenses horizontally and vertically, creating matchup problems against linebackers and safeties. Arroyo’s athletic profile gives Seattle exactly that type of weapon. And can help him to improve his blocking skills,” wrote Castro.
“More importantly, Fleury’s coaching background suggests he understands how to create opportunities for players like him.”
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GettyThe Seattle Seahawks selected tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Last season, there really wasn’t much opportunity for a second tight end to shine for the Seahawks. Barner led the position with 827 offensive snaps. No other Seahawks tight end had even half that.
Arroyo was second with 316 snaps on offense.
The expectation under Fleury, though, is the Seahawks will run more 2-tight end sets. If that happens, Arroyo is in the line for the biggest playing time bump.
Arroyo is one of six tight ends on the Seahawks roster this offseason. In addition to Barner, the team also has Eric Saubert, Lance Mason, Nick Kallerup and Harrison Bryant on the roster.
Saubert and Kallerup could see more snaps too. But each tight end played under 26% of the team’s offensive snaps last season.
It’s also possible Kallerup isn’t on the active roster. Seattle signed Bryant in free agency. He could potentially offer blocking and some pass-catching experience as a depth tight end.
Bryant posted 45 receptions, 471 receiving yards and six touchdowns overall in his first two NFL seasons. Last year, though, he had two catches for seven yards in 12 contests.
Seahawks fans will be able to see more closely how the tight end rotation works out at training camp in July and then the preseason during August.
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