Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner (hamstring) returned to organized team activities on Monday after sitting out of rookie minicamp and OTAs at the end of May with a hamstring injury. It's great news for the fourth-rounder, who can now start to get valuable on-field repetitions as he looks to learn a new offense and get up to speed before training camp starts at the end of July. The 22-year-old figures to be off the redraft fantasy radar in 2024 and should serve as depth at the position in Seattle behind Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown. Barner is unlikely to play a significant role in his first year in the NFL and was seen on draft day as more of a project heading to the next level. He has an immense wing span and stands at 6-foot-6, but he accumulated only 610 yards and five touchdowns in 40 collegiate games at Indiana and Michigan.
Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner (hamstring), who didn't take part in rookie minicamp, is still sidelined during organized team activities this week due to a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if Barner's hamstring issues will keep him sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July, but he's still missing valuable repetitions as he tries to learn Seattle's offense heading into his first NFL season. The 22-year-old was taken in the fourth round of last month's NFL draft and was considered more of a project at the position, so he was unlikely to play a key role in 2024 anyway. When healthy, he's going to provide the Seahawks with depth at the tight end position behind Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. At best, Barner may be a red-zone weapon for the Seahawks offense down the road.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Michigan tight end AJ Barner with the No. 121 overall pick in the fourth round on Saturday in the 2024 NFL draft. Barner is a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, but his lack of production in four seasons at Indiana and Michigan (64 catches, 610 yards, five touchdowns) leaves a lot to be desired as he moves to the next level. The 21-year-old also isn't extremely athletic, but he'll have some opportunity in Seattle to make a name for himself as he starts out behind Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown on the tight end depth chart in his rookie season in 2024. Fantasy managers should only consider Barner as a developmental prospect in deep rookie-only drafts this fall.
