Seattle Seahawks rookie second-round draft pick Elijah Arroyo is far from a typical tight end.
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The 6-foot-5, 254-pound Arroyo has a rare level of speed and athleticism for his size – a combination that was on full display last fall at the University of Miami. He totaled 35 catches for 590 yards and seven touchdowns during his breakout 2024 campaign with the Hurricanes, while leading all FBS tight ends with 16.9 yards per reception.
Along the way, Arroyo also showcased a unique level of positional versatility. According to Pro Football Focus, he lined up as a slot receiver for 39.5% of his snaps last season and as an outside receiver for 5.7% of his snaps.
As a result, there’s been speculation that Arroyo could be used as an occasional “X” receiver in Seattle.
And to former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus, that makes Arroyo a potential “luxury player” for the Seahawks.
“He’s a tight end that possesses things that only a couple tight ends can do,” Bumpus said during a Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “Even (San Francisco 49ers star tight end) George Kittle, you don’t see him lined up outside very much. But (Arroyo) has the capabilities to do that. … You can move him around. You can put him outside, put him in the slot and attach him to the line of scrimmage at your traditional tight end spot.
“You already have tight ends who can do some of the things that Elijah can do, but he just does it at a different level, and I think it’ll open up the playbook,” he added. “So I’m excited about him. I think he’s a player that you could do without, but because you have him, it just enhances everything that you want to do.”
Listen to the full Four Down Territory segment at this link or in the audio player at the bottom of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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