Seattle Seahawks select AJ Barner in fourth round of 2024 NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks have selected former Michigan Wolverines tight end AJ Barner in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the No. 121 overall pick.

Barner started in nine of the Wolverines’ 15 fames this past season, hauling in 22 receptions for 249 yards and two touchdowns which earned him an All-Big Ten honorable mention nod. He played on season in Ann Arbor, transferring in from Indiana where he played two season.

The former Wolverines tight end finished his three-year collegiate career with 64 receptions for 610 yards and five touchdowns.

He did lead the country’s tight ends with an 82.2 overall PFF grade and 81.4 run-blocking rating (minimum 250 snaps) this past season — something that NFL scouts certainly took under consideration during the pre-draft process.

I think I’m the best blocking tight end in the country, and whoever is lined up across from me, I have tremendous faith in myself,” Barner said.

Before he entered college, Barner was a three-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the 1,173-ranked player in the class of 2020, however many feel as though he played above his final high school ranking in college.

What NFL analysts are saying about AJ Barner

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein broke down how he protects Barner’s abilities to translate to the NFL.

“In-line tight end who continues improving as a run blocker but is unlikely to offer much as a pass catcher. He was a captain at Indiana before transferring to Michigan, and scouts say he attacks practices and weight training with a single-minded obsession to get better and compete. He’s technically sound in the early stages of the run block but needs to improve with his positioning to create better lanes for the runner.

“He can handle some pass protection but needs to keep improving. Barner’s role might be a little limited as a blocking Y tight end with below-average pass-catching traits, but he should earn playing time in the future.”

Zierlein lists Barner’s strengths as being able to dot defender’s frames with crisp under-hook punches, has success thanks to timing and athleticism, improved his foot chops and block finishing, showed improvement in pass protection, among others.

On the flip side, Zierlein believes there is room for improvement when it comes to Barner’s inconsistency locating his mark as a zone blocker, has average success rate on contested catches and can have heavy feet.