Seahawks Re-sign TE Noah Fant to Two-Year Contract
Bringing back the first of their unrestricted free agents on a new contract, the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with veteran tight end Noah Fant.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Fant will return to the Seahawks on a two-year pact worth up to $21 million. The deal came in the aftermath of the team losing Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly to the Rams and Chargers respectively, ensuring one of their primary tight ends would be back in 2024.
Noah Fant only produced 414 receiving yards in 2023, but Seattle appears to be banking on him playing a bigger role in Ryan Grubb's offense.
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Originally drafted by Denver in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Fant arrived in Seattle as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade two years ago. Prior to playing a down for the team, general manager John Schneider picked up his fifth-year option, affording the Seahawks two full seasons to determine whether or not the former Iowa star would be part of their future moving forward.
Statistically, Fant didn't post as prolific of receiving numbers as he did during his time with the Broncos, producing 486 and 414 yards in 2022 and 2023 respectively. He also found the end zone only four times, including failing to score a single touchdown last season despite playing in all 17 games for the Seahawks.
However, Fant's numbers were impacted significantly by limited targets in an offense featuring receivers Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as well as being in a time share with Dissly and Parkinson. When granted opportunities to make plays as a receiver, he caught 77 percent of his targets and averaged a healthy 11 yards per reception over the past two seasons. He also finished eighth among tight ends in yards after the catch per reception in 2023, showing his ability to create with the football in his hands.
Continuing to make steady improvements as a blocker as well, Fant finished with a career-best 59.6 run blocking grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus. While primarily running routes on passing plays, he also ranked a respectable 26th out of 91 qualified tight ends in pass blocking grade while allowing only four pressures and a sack on 36 pass protection reps.
Looking towards the future, Seattle will be banking on the athletic 26-year old Fant playing a bigger role in the team's passing attack with new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb calling plays. While Grubb's three star receivers received the bulk of the attention at Washington last year, tight end Jack Westover finished third on the team in receptions, illustrating the position's importance in his scheme.
With Fant re-signed, the Seahawks will have a proven starter on the roster for the next two seasons, but more work will need to be done in coming days to help fill the void left by Dissly and Parkinson's departure. Look for Schneider to try to identify a veteran on a team-friendly contract to add as depth while making the position a top priority in April's draft.
