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Seattle Seahawks Select Michigan TE AJ Barner With 121st Pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks are adding some blocking help for Geno Smith in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Jeremy Brener

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end AJ Barner (89) against the Washington
Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end AJ Barner (89) against the Washington / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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The Seattle Seahawks are adding to the offense with their second fourth-round pick, selecting Michigan tight end AJ Barner.

The move comes after the team selected Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II on Thursday, UConn guard Christian Haynes last night and UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight with the No. 118 overall pick.

Jan 30, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National tight end Aj Barner of Michigan (89) grabs a pass with
Jan 30, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National tight end Aj Barner of Michigan (89) grabs a pass with / Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks were originally supposed to pick at No. 102, but they struck a deal with the Denver Broncos to move back to No. 121. They were also able to grab the Nos. 136 and 207 picks.

Barner, an Ohio native, spent his first three collegiate seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers before transferring to the Michigan Wolverines, where he was part of the undefeated National Championship team. Barner isn't much of a receiver, only catching 64 passes for 610 yards and five touchdowns during his four years in the Big Ten. He stands 6-6 and weighs 245 pounds, making him an ideal size for the next level.

He'll be expected to be a blocking tight end for the offense, joining Noah Fant, Tyler Mabry, Brady Russell and Pharaoh Brown in the position group. Tight end was a big need for the Seahawks coming into the draft, so to fulfill that need early in Day 3 gives the team flexibility to target other positions later on in the day.

The Seahawks aren't done today with a handful of picks throughout the late morning and afternoon. Their next pick comes at the top of Round 5 with the No. 136 overall selection.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.