The Seattle Seahawks just added a leading force on the field! They drafted tight end Elijah Arroyo with the 50th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Arroyo, a stud from the U of M, has the potential to immediately come in and make an impact. His arrival has already raised concerns about the future role of current TE Noah Fant.
Although a knee injury that affected him for most of the predraft process caused concerns, Arroyo has proved his toughness. Injury prevented him from running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and at his pro day. Not only was he present, but he was an active participant in team drills during rookie camp. When pressed on whether the knee injury was officially in the rearview mirror, Arroyo said yes, and that he’s prepared to be an impact player.
Seahawks General Manager John Schneider said Arroyo was their top pick. That’s precisely why he was sitting there when we were picking at 50. He was right. This sentiment speaks to how high the team is on Arroyo, that they believe he can grow into a significant contributor.
Nolan Teasley, a part of the Seahawks’ scouting contingent, raved about Arroyo’s unique blend of size and speed. He noted, “To be that size and move that fast and then have route skill is special, and it creates problems for defenses because you can dictate matchups.” Such versatility would allow Arroyo to wear many hats in the Seahawks’ offensive scheme.
Head coach Mike Macdonald further emphasized Arroyo’s capabilities, asserting, “This guy can run an extensive route tree.” These skills would allow him to take the field at multiple offensive positions. He could perhaps even assume a role comparable to Fant’s.
Fant has been a consistent, reliable target for the Seahawks whenever he’s been on the field since arriving in Seattle. With Arroyo’s arrival, he’s suddenly got a lot more competition. The two players are stylistic and skillset clones—both are elite pass catchers with the ability to create and capitalize on mismatches against non-receiving threat defenders. As draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah pointed out with this comparison, Arroyo could provide Fant’s impact on the field.
As Arroyo gets more accustomed to calling plays, it remains to be seen how much he will impact Fant’s role in the future. Will he develop into a valuable complementary piece, or even compete with Fant for top receiving assignments? Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, speculated if Arroyo could even take over as Seattle’s X receiver, a position typically reserved for the team’s top target.
Arroyo’s future wasn’t so clear, thanks to a rash of very recent injuries. He’s not without risk himself, having missed 16 games over the last two seasons with a torn left ACL, but he has elite potential. As long as he is healthy and continues to develop through training camp, he will be a big time player for Seattle. The preseason presents him with the best chance to make his mark.
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