The San Francisco 49ers had a bit of a roster turnover in the offseason. They let go of some veteran talent with the hope of rebounding from their 6-11 season in 2024. Injuries and poor performances hindered the squad, and the semi-shakeup was done with the hope of reinvigorating the roster and getting the team back to the Super Bowl. So, some strong performers had to be let go.
The hope is that these familiar faces will land elsewhere and find success, even if not with the 49ers. Sadly, that won't be the case for every player that the 49ers parted ways with. Eventually, every player says goodbye to the game, and that may be the case for the 31-year-old, former Niners tight end, Eric Saubert.
Former 49ers TE Eric Saubert is Destined to Be a Training Camp Cut
The long-time journeymen, who had stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys, had a solid season with San Fran last season, serving mostly as a blocking tight end. He's a good run-blocker, and the hope is that he can help his new team, the Seattle Seahawks, with improving their running game.
The only problem with that is that the Seahawks are rebuilding. The 49ers' NFC West rival moved on from long-time coach Pete Carroll and even moved on from more established players like receiver DK Metcalf and cutting tight end Noah Fant.
Cutting those veterans, both of whom are still in their prime and under 30. Saubert isn't. He's 31 and has never been a big-time playmaker at his position. The Seahawks are likely looking to go younger, and the team has several young tight ends on the roster who are likely to push for more playing time.
The team's new incumbent starter is AJ Barner, a second-year tight end who posted over 400 yards receiving last year and showed flashes of being able to take over the starting job behind Fant last year. The team then drafted Elijah Arroyo, a second-round pick out of Miami (FL) this year. Nick Kallerup and Marshall Lang are also options, having been undrafted free agents that the Seahawks picked up.
Kallerup, more than Lang, may be in line to land on the roster. He's massive, at 6'5", and over 260 lbs, and Kallerup could easily come in and prove himself a strong blocker. If he's able to do that, then the ex-49ers TE won't be around Seattle for long.