Seahawks pre-draft position overview: Tight end possible but not major need

In his fifth NFL season in 2023 and second with the Seahawks, Noah Fant posted career lows in receptions (32), yards (414) and touchdowns (zero).

But that hardly seemed to tame the Seahawks’ assessment of what Fant is capable of producing.

In what proved to be the second-biggest contract the Seahawks handed out this offseason, the Seahawks re-signed Fant to a two-year deal worth up to $21 million. Only Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will have bigger cap hits this year on offense than Fant’s $7.5 million.

There was some urgency to get a deal done with Fant — who is the only one of the three veteran players the Seahawks received in the Russell Wilson trade who remains with the team — after cutting Will Dissly and seeing Colby Parkinson sign with the Rams.

After keeping Fant, the Seahawks supplemented their tight-end corps by signing seven-year veteran Pharaoh Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $3.2 million.

That gives the Seahawks an experienced 1-2 punch at tight end, with Fant as the de facto starter and projected to get the most snaps and regarded as more of the receiving tight end, and Brown the backup and able to play in two-tight end sets, regarded as more of a blocker.

The Seahawks retained two other reserves from last year in Brady Russell and Tyler Mabry.

The Seahawks don’t have an urgent need at tight end. But given the relatively short-term nature of those under contract, they certainly could look to take one, for now and the future.

As we continue our pre-draft preview of the Seahawks’ position groups, let’s look further at tight end.

Projected depth chart

Starters: Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown. Fant averaged 60 catches per season the previous three years before falling to 32 last year, when Dissly and Parkinson also had major roles in the offense. A new offensive coordinator in Ryan Grubb could get him more involved. Brown, who attended Oregon, played 399 snaps with the Patriots last season with 13 catches for 208 yards.

Backups: Brady Russell, Tyler Mabry. Russell, signed in September, played in 15 games as a core special teamer and a few snaps on offense without catching a pass. Mabry, who has been with the Seahawks since 2020, spent all season on the practice squad.

Draft need, 1-10: 6. 

Schneider/Carroll draft history

Tight ends drafted (listed by draft order): Nick Vannett (94^th overall, 2016); Will Dissly (120, 2018); Colby Parkinson (133, 2020); Luke Willson (158, 2013); Anthony McCoy (185, 2010). 

Best pick: That’s a pretty good hit rate for productivity, especially considering all were taken in the middle-to-late rounds, as all had some productive moments with the Seahawks. The two best are Dissly and Willson. But if we have to pick a “best,” we’d side with Willson. It’s sort of hard to imagine the Carroll-era years without his presence, and the two-point catch in the NFC title game in 2015 is one of the most memorable plays in team history.

One regret: Since none of those can be regarded as bad picks, the big regret at this spot over the last 14 years is mostly in one who got away — Travis Kelce. Following the 2012 season, when the Seahawks were maybe in the most “take the best player available’’ position they’ve ever been, they drafted running back Christine Michael at 62, leaving the Chiefs to take Kelce with the next pick at 63. 
The Seahawks had Zach Miller on a big contract at the time. But the pick of Willson a few rounds later showed they had some tight-end needs. 

Draft overview

Known visitors: The only tight end the Seahawks have reportedly had in for a private visit is Theo Johnson of Penn State. The 6-foot-6, 264-pounder is 135^th on Pro Football Focus’ big board and seventh among tight ends. PFF wrote of Johnson: “He makes his money from an inline spot as a versatile blocker and pass catcher in heavier formations. He is a strong blocker when he targets defenders between the shoulders, but he can sometimes get crossed up (another area where his limited lateral ability shows).”

Local ties: Two UW tight ends attended the combine — Jack Westover and Devin Culp. Culp impressed with a 4.47 40-yard dash, but Westover did not take part in drills because of surgery from a hand injury.

Both appear to be late-round picks or undrafted free-agent signees. PFF has Westover 277^th on its big board but does not include Culp.

Others to watch: Here’s a good analysis of the tight-end class this week from Bucky Brooks of NFL.com: “The tight end class is not as loaded as the 2023 group, but Georgia’s Brock Bowers is a future All-Pro with a gold jacket-caliber game. He is the mismatch creator every offensive coordinator covets in a flex tight end with Y capabilities. Texas’ JaTavion Sanders impresses as a designated seam runner with enticing potential as a red-zone weapon.”

The 6-4, 240-pound Bowers, who caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards and a whopping 26 TDs the last three years at Georgia, is the only tight end generally thought to have a chance to go in the first round, and some view him as potentially going in the top 10. Could the Seahawks take a leap for him at 16 to try to add a dynamic middle-of-the-field threat to team with its starting trio of receivers and Fant?

You’d think the Seahawks would have to consider it, especially since the depth of the interior offensive line group could allow the Seahawks to fill needs there later.

And as always, there’s a Michigan prospect who could be on their radar — A.J. Barner. Barner is considered a third-day pick and at 6-6, 251, more of a blocking tight end who could be a good complement in multi-tight end sets.

Sanders is generally considered the second-best tight end available but likely a second- or third-rounder.

Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott and Ohio State’s Cade Stover have also been commonly mocked to the Seahawks in the middle rounds. The 6-4, 245-pound Sinnott also has some H-back experience. Stover played defensive end and linebacker at Ohio State and that versatility could be enticing — and would indicate he’d be a good special teams’ player, a must for a third or fourth tight end.

The final analysis: There’s no question who the top two tight ends on the roster are entering the season. But there’s room for a third — and for someone who could develop into a larger role down the line. If the Seahawks are truly in best-player-available mode, they will have to seriously think about taking Bowers if he falls to 16.

Next: Wide receiver.

Note: This story’s been updated to reflect that Culp ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, not a 4.7, as originally reported.