Lance Mason Just Became the Seahawks' Best Bargain After Everyone Else Passed on Him

The Seattle Seahawks' 2026 draft class was unconventional, but what happened after the final pick dropped might be even better. General manager John Schneider signed Wisconsin tight end Lance Mason as an undrafted free agent, and this could be one of those signature moves that looks brilliant six months from now.

Here's the thing: Mason had draftable feedback across the league. Teams knew about him. And yet somehow he went unsigned through all seven rounds. That's the kind of gap between perception and reality that Schneider has built his reputation on exploiting.

What Makes Mason Different

At 6-3 and 243 pounds, Mason is a smaller tight end, which usually limits your ceiling in the NFL. Except he's actually a competitive blocker. He has experience working both in-line and detached, showing willingness to block on the move. His blocking improved significantly during his one season with Wisconsin, though he still profiles best as a move tight end with impact in the passing game.

Mason has strong hands and plays through contact. He's a smooth athlete with upside as a route runner. With AJ Barner already entrenched as your in-line tight end coming off a breakout 2025 season, Mason could eventually develop into that complementary weapon in multiple tight end sets. The depth behind Barner includes Eric Saubert, Elijah Arroyo, and Nick Kallerup, so there's competition, but Mason has the skill set to earn snaps.

The Path That Got Him Here

Mason started his college career as a walk-on at Missouri State out of Rockwall, Texas High School with zero scholarship offers. He spent three seasons with the Bears, then had a monster 2024 campaign with 34 receptions for 590 yards and six touchdowns. That performance got him into the transfer portal, and Wisconsin came calling.

With the Badgers, Mason became their top tight end option in 2025 and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. In 12 games, he hauled in 30 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns. That's the resume that should have gotten him drafted. That's also why this signing is such a steal.

What's Next

Mason's immediate path is special teams. That's his ticket to carving out a roster spot in year one. But if he keeps developing his game, the potential here is extremely intriguing. The Seahawks get a mismatch weapon in the passing game for nothing but a contract, and Mason gets a legitimate shot in a system with head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. That's the kind of value this franchise thrives on.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.