The Seattle Seahawks have made a significant roster move just before the commencement of training camp, announcing on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the release of veteran tight end Noah Fant. This decision, confirmed by the team’s official website, marks the end of Fant’s three-season tenure with the Seahawks and carries substantial financial and strategic implications for the team’s tight end corps.
Fant, originally a first-round pick (20th overall) by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft, joined the Seahawks on March 16, 2022. He was a key component of the blockbuster trade that sent quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver, a package that also included quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick. The Seahawks had exercised Fant’s fifth-year option on April 12, 2022, indicating their initial long-term plans for him.
During his three seasons in Seattle (2022-2024), Fant appeared in 48 games, starting 42 of them. He accumulated 130 receptions for 1,400 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His most productive year with the Seahawks was 2022, where he recorded 50 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. In 2023, he had 32 receptions for 414 yards with no touchdowns, and in his most recent 2024 season, he caught 48 passes for 500 yards and one touchdown. Across his entire NFL career, including his time with the Broncos, Fant boasts 300 receptions for 3,305 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns over 95 games played (83 starts), according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.
The financial aspect of Fant’s release is notable. He had signed a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Seahawks in March 2024. For the 2025 season, Fant was slated to earn $8.49 million in non-guaranteed salary, along with $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses. His total cap number for 2025 was projected at $13,410,000, a figure surpassed only by Leonard Williams on the Seahawks’ current roster, as reported by Field Gulls. By releasing Fant, the Seahawks will save $8.91 million against the salary cap. However, the guaranteed nature of his $4.5 million signing bonus will result in $4.5 million in dead money. This move is expected to provide the Seahawks with well over $30 million in available cap space, offering significant flexibility for future roster adjustments.
Fant’s departure signals a clear vote of confidence in the younger talent within the Seahawks’ tight end room. Second-year tight end AJ Barner, who had an impressive rookie campaign with 30 receptions for 245 yards and four touchdowns, is now poised for an expanded role. Rookie Elijah Arroyo, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is also expected to see increased opportunities. Veteran free-agent addition Eric Saubert’s path to a roster spot may also have become clearer. The team’s tight end depth chart also includes undrafted rookies Marshall Lang and Nick Kallerup, while Brady Russell has transitioned to fullback and will compete with fifth-round pick Robbie Ouzts. This strategic move by the Seahawks aims to optimize their salary cap while fostering the development of emerging talent at the tight end position.
