Seattle, WA
Ted’s Talk: Predicting AJ Barner’s rookie season
The Seattle Seahawks were expected to utilize their new coaching staff’s college connections at some point during the NFL Draft. They made good on those expectations at pick No. 118 in the fourth round, selecting tight end AJ Barner from the University of Michigan. Barner – who played for new special teams coach Jay Harbaugh for the Wolverines – was primarily used as a blocking TE but could bring untapped potential in the passing game.
Athletic Profile/Comps
Relative Athletic Score (RAS)
Mockdraftable
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Finally, a Seahawks draft pick that isn’t undersized! Well, except for starting the run on small hands…
Barner’s RAS is a little strange because outside of his height and 3-cone, nothing else is in the green. He also isn’t particularly fast with a 4.84 second 40. Yet, every composite category is “good” which results in a very good overall RAS.
Tyler Eifert is the best name on the RAS comp list but his score is quite a bit higher, so I don’t think that’s the best one to look at.
Mockdraftable only uses combine values and Barner did the testing at his pro day…making the Mockdraftable somewhat less instructive since they’re based off of less values.
However, the Mockdraftable comp with Drew Sample isn’t a bad one if we look at RAS.
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Sample is stronger and faster, but Barner has a better 3-cone, vertical/broad jumps, and is taller. Sample is also similar to Barner in that he’s really only elite in one area (bench) yet is essentially “good” at everything to give him a high overall RAS.
Just for fun, let’s look at some of the more recent Seahawks tight ends and see how Barner stacks up.
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As you can see, Barner is actually more athletic than their past draft picks at around the same size. He was also taken in basically the same range as both Dissly and Parkinson were fellow fourth-round picks while Vannett was a third-rounder.
I still wasn’t really satisfied with these comps so I spent way more time than I’d like to admit flipping through my mental Rolodex of tight ends to try and find one that was closer, at least athletically. Finally, I found one with Anthony Fasano.
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Again, it’s not perfect but at least gives us the level of athlete we’re looking at with Barner. Fasano played 12 years in the NFL and had 36 career TDs. He only eclipsed 350 receiving yards in a season 3 times, maxing out at 528 yards. Fasano was a reliable safety blanket, though, and I’d definitely take that for Barner’s career.
Gut reaction to the pick
As soon as I saw the pick, I thought “makes sense.”
Like Seattle’s other fourth-round pick, Tyrice Knight, some thought this was a round too early for Barner. There was a little run on TEs in the fourth round with Ja’Tavion Sanders (No. 101), Theo Johnson (No. 107), and Erick All (No. 115) getting drafted prior to Seattle making a pick – remember that they originally had pick No. 102 but traded down.
Maybe the Seahawks liked those other TEs as well and felt that they had to pick Barner to avoid a shelf at the position. As was the case with Knight, however, it may be that this was a player Seattle was targeting with other TEs available at the time that were higher on consensus boards such as Cade Stover and Jared Wiley who both went later in the fourth round. That’s a cluster of six total TEs drafted in the fourth round, if you’re counting…so maybe Seattle didn’t reach after all?
The Seahawks had an opening at the TE position after losing Will Dissly (Los Angeles Chargers) and Colby Parkinson (Los Angeles Rams) to free agency in the offseason and adding Pharaoh Brown on a one-year deal. Barner provides depth and will probably assume the blocking TE role that Dissly held by the 2025 season at the latest.
Barner’s calling card will be his ability to block, but that can also make him a sneaky addition to the pass game.
The simple stuff done right in the redzone from AJ Barner. He gets a good release and slips right behind the backers. Notice how well he is keeping pace with JJ McCarthy on the roll out and presents a big target. pic.twitter.com/crXTUaLrQq
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) January 20, 2024
Plays like these could make him a QB’s best friend if the primary reads are covered. All in all, he’s likely the Dissly replacement on a rookie contract. That’s a fine use of a fourth-round pick.
Rookie season prediction
I’m not expecting Barner to have a significant role in the offense as a rookie unless Noah Fant or Pharaoh Brown are injured. Fant is the best pass-catching TE and Brown the best (for now) run-blocking option. Even UDFA Jack Westover – if he makes the team – is potentially a better option to catch passes.
Since Brown is only on a one-year contract, however, it will be important to get Barner meaningful snaps in run-heavy sets to groom him to take over that role next season. Barner was never a big producer in college with 610 yards and 5 TDs total in his 4-year college career. He’ll have few opportunities in his rookie season and will reel in 12 catches for 125 yards and 1 sneaky TD. More importantly, Barner will be a mainstay on special teams units and become a trusted part of Jay Harbaugh’s units.
Seattle, WA
Who will be the next Seahawks owner? One possible bidder invests in the 49ers
The Seattle Seahawks’ new ownership group may be just like the old one: a team of basketball owners.
In addition to being the first known bidders for the Seahawks, Mittal and Grousbeck were the only names listed on their letter of interest to the Allen Estate. Since Mittal lives in London, Grousbeck would likely be running operations from Seattle and live there part-time, as per Sportico.
But wait, there’s more.
Vinod Khosla, an investor in the division rival San Francisco 49ers, has also been named as a potential buyer. Last year, Khosla was one of a few nearby investors to purchase equity in the 49ers, with the team’s total valuation reaching north of $8.5 billion at the time. The specifics of the individual stakes were not made public, but Sportico reports that Khosla’s was the largest of the group.
The Seahawks are valued at just under $7 billion, but they will likely be sold for more. If Khosla were to purchase the team from Jody Allen, he would obviously need to sell his stake in the Niners. This type of move is becoming increasingly common in today’s NFL, which has seen former Pittsburgh Steelers minority owners David Tepper and Josh Harris acquire the Panthers and Commanders, respectively.
Harris, who bought a controlling interest in the Commanders in 2023, purchased the team from Dan Snyder for over $6 billion, the largest figure for such an acquisition for an NFL franchise. No matter who ends up purchasing the Seahawks from the Allen Estate, Harris’s record will surely be broken.
Seattle, WA
Meet the ‘fuel mitigation specialists’ protecting Pierce County from wildfires
GRAHAM, Wash. – As Washington faces a spring with severely low snowpack, fire districts across the state are ramping up preparations for Wildfire Awareness Month. At Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, some of the most effective team members are focusing on prevention, through meal time.
Station 96, now affectionately nicknamed “The Goat House,” deployed a herd of goats to serve as official “fuel mitigation specialists.” These four-legged lawnmowers are tasked with clearing thick vegetation and maintaining the retention pond area around the station to ensure dry brush doesn’t become fuel for a potential fire.
The ‘G.O.A.T.’ of mitigation
While they may not look like your typical firefighters—and they certainly lack a sense of professional decorum—officials say the herd is setting a regional standard for wildfire prevention.
“They are the GOAT of […] fuel mitigation,” joked Wildfire Coordinator Jake Weigley.
The strategy is as practical as it is adorable. By having the goats graze the land, the department avoids spending crew downtime on weed whackers. This keeps firefighters ready for what they do best: responding to emergencies.
“It does save the taxpayers money, because our crews are able to focus on training and responding to calls,” Weigley said.
The “GoatFundMe’ account
Despite their official titles, these specialists aren’t on the public payroll. Their snacks, veterinary care, and general upkeep are funded internally through a “GoatFundMe” account, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions from fire department and county employees.
The department hopes these stubborn workers will inspire residents to take notes on their own “defensible space” at home. Much like the goats clearing the field, fire officials recommend homeowners hardscape and remove any fuels that could carry a fire toward buildings.
A heightened season of awareness
The timing is critical. Following a winter with low precipitation, officials are on high alert for the upcoming fire season, though the full severity remains a question mark until the summer heat truly hits.
“We’re in a heightened level of awareness based on our snowpack and precipitation over the winter,” Weigley said. “But until fire season really gets started, we won’t know how severe it will be.”
Residents interested in meeting the herd can monitor the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue Facebook page for upcoming station events and community open houses. They ask to protect the goat’s health, you do not feed them.
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Seattle, WA
Bryan Woo returns to dominance in Seattle Mariners win – Seattle Sports
Bryan Woo was the best pitcher the Seattle Mariners had in 2025 as they made their run to the playoffs.
He looked like that guy again on Wednesday afternoon.
Seattle Mariners 3, Atlanta Braves 1: Recap | Box score | Standings
Woo shook off a pair of recent shaky outings to go six scoreless, one-hit innings to lead the Mariners to a 3-1 win that clinched a series victory over the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves.
The 26-year-old right-hander worked around a pair of walks while tying his season-high with nine strikeouts.
Woo had a 2.25 ERA through his first five starts of the season, but he ran into trouble on Seattle’s last road trip, allowing seven runs on nine hits including four home runs at St. Louis on April 25. He struggled again last Friday, giving up four runs in the first inning and six runs total over six frames in a loss at home to Kansas City.
Those two outings pushed Woo’s ERA up to 4.61, but he lowered it to 4.02 on the year with his start Wednesday.
What Rowland-Smith sees in Woo’s recent struggles
With Woo dominant on the mound, the Mariners’ offense didn’t need to do too much to build a lead against the Braves. Seattle went up 1-0 when designated hitter Cal Raleigh came up with no outs and hit into a bases-loaded double play in the third inning, scoring catcher Jhonny Pereda.
Julio Rodríguez contributed with a little more volume in the sixth inning, blasting a 436-foot solo home run to center off of Braves starter Martín Pérez to put the M’s up 2-0. And after the Braves scored one in the eighth, team RBI leader Cole Young added some insurance by bringing home Josh Naylor home with his second double of the game.
The Mariners came back to beat Atlanta 5-4 on Monday, then had to bounce back Wednesday after falling 3-2 Tuesday night following Braves slugger Matt Olson’s go-ahead homer off of closer Andrés Muñoz in the ninth inning.
Seattle improved to 18-20 with the win, while the Braves dropped to 26-12. It was the first series loss of 2026 for Atlanta.
Houston Astros lose star Carlos Correa for season
The M’s are off Thursday, then begin a seven-game road trip at 4:40 p.m. Friday against the White Sox in Chicago. Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports of that series opener will begin at 3:30 with the pregame show.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Top prospect Colt Emerson snaps slump with HR, three-hit game
• M’s prospect Kade Anderson could benefit from new challenge
• Mariners place Gabe Speier on IL, add two lefty relievers
• Mariners showing some concerning signs on defense
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