Should I Start Elijah Arroyo?

Friday, May 1, 6:01 AM

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo caught only 15 passes as a rookie for 179 yards and one score, but following a 2026 NFL Draft that saw nine tight ends selected through the first two days and 21 overall, he emerged as one of the few young tight ends unaffected by the historically deep class. Seattle was one of 16 teams that did not add to the position through the draft, and as such, Arroyo has seen his dynasty ranking rise to RotoBaller's TE26 as half the league's depth charts face added competition. While it will take more than just a changing landscape around him to maintain value, Arroyo's plus-athleticism and strong hands are what made him a 2025 second-round pick despite a checkered medical history. While he is still stuck behind AJ Barner on the Seahawks' depth chart, this recent draft is a clear indicator of the league's trending path towards more 12 and 13 personnel packages, and Arroyo could carve out a meaningful role under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who has spent the past four seasons as the 49ers' tight ends coach.