When the Seattle Seahawks signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert, the move was logical on paper. With Pharoah Brown leaving in free agency and limited depth behind Noah Fant and AJ Barner, Saubert offered eight years of NFL experience most recently playing all 17 games with the 49ers in 2024.
But after the Seahawks selected Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the landscape shifted dramatically. What once looked like a smart depth signing now appears to be an unnecessary luxury.
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Depth at Tight End Could Force Seahawks’ Hand
Fant remains the starter and is coming off his best season in Seattle. Barner, a 2024 fourth-round pick, is still viewed as a developmental asset. Arroyo, meanwhile, enters camp as a premium draft investment expected to see immediate snaps.
That leaves Saubert, a low-impact veteran with limited value. He posted just 11 receptions for 97 yards last season and is unlikely to leapfrog any of the younger options on the depth chart.
Seattle could save most of Saubert’s $1.2 million contract by cutting him before Week 1. While the move may not be ideal from a PR perspective, it’s looking more like a business decision the team will have to consider seriously.
Carrying four tight ends into the regular season is possible, but not probable. The Seahawks are likely to prioritize youth, upside, and roster flexibility, none of which favors Saubert’s chances of making the final 53-man squad.
Unless injuries occur during camp, Eric Saubert may not even suit up for a single regular season snap in Seattle — making him a potential waste of a roster spot and salary cap space.
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