Roster moves continue as teams prepare for the start of training camp. In the case of the Seahawks, that includes parting ways with a notable veteran. 
Tight end Noah Fant has been released, per a team announcement. One year remained on his contract with a nonguaranteed base salary of $8.49MM owed. Rather than keeping Fant in the fold for 2025, Seattle will move on.
This decision will result in $8.91MM in cap savings for the Seahawks while incurring a dead money charge of $4.5MM. Fant will now look to find a new opportunity during training camp. The team, meanwhile, will give its other tight ends a larger opportunity during practice before deciding if an addition is required ahead of Week 1.
A first-round pick of the Broncos in 2019, Fant totaled 1,400 yards on 130 receptions during his time with the team. He was included in the Russell Wilson blockbuster, though, so he spent the past three years in Seattle. The Iowa product was unable to reach the same level of production in Seattle that he managed in Denver; his 500 yards in 2024 were the most in the Emerald City but fell short of any of his three Broncos campaigns.
Seattle moved on from both D.K. Metcalf (via trade) and Tyler Lockett (via release) this offseason. Those decisions will leave the team with a noticeably different receiver room in 2025. Returnee Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free agent signing Cooper Kupp will lead the way at that spot moving forward. Fant will not reprise his role as the Seahawks’ primary pass-catching tight end, however.
The 27-year-old will be a name to watch in free agency as teams sort out their depth charts over the coming weeks. Fant would give any number of suitors a starting-caliber presence at the position or at least a strong pass catcher to complement another tight end best suited to run blocking. It will be interesting to see how his market takes shape.
In the meantime, Seattle will move forward with a depth chart including second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo. AJ Barner is set for his second year with the team, and veteran Eric Saubert is a depth option. By releasing Fant, the Seahawks are (barring another move) committing to that trio to handle tight end duties for at least the 2025 season.
Next up in Miami
Giving up a sure-handed tight end doesn’t seem to be progress. Wonder who Fant offended in Seahawks management.
Fant doesn’t fit the new scheme, that requires TEs to block.
His style of play has not fit since coming from Denver. When he came in the trade I thought we had got a steal.been a good team mate, pretty durable but that contract is too much.
He will be picked up sonewhere.
They putting a lot of stock into the rookie TE Arroyo who has a lot of potential. Fant could mesh easily in dolphins offense especially after losing Jonnu and Smythe. Complimentary roles with Eagles, Broncos, Commanders and Niners also make sense
This is surprising until you look at the contract. Fant is a good pass catcher who was in an unproven position group, but the Seahawks are probably going to run a lot more and he didn’t have any guarantees left on his deal. It does kind of suck for Fant that he got released so late, though. As TJECK mentioned, Miami has a need-though they like blocking from their TEs, they may be in a position where they just need someone there anyway. Besides, their last two TEs were both athletic pass catchers in Gesicki and Smith, so Fant can do some of that himself.
I agree…I was surprised his name didnt come up in TE trades this off season.
Seattle looks like a boring sub .500 team. Did none of them watch Sam D play for the past 6 years???
I think it’s going to be a interesting year. I’m still not sold on Sam D, hoping for best but only time will tell. Let’s hope it’s a exciting sub 500!
I do not like Sam Darnold at all and disliked getting rid of Geno for him but he didn’t want to be here and they had to move on the fly
They didnt have much of a choice. I’m hoping works out but gonna have to see.
Feed him more volume and he will succeed. He has a great catch rate.
If his salary is $8.49 how is the cap savings $8.91?
Contract for year was not guaranteed