Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant inching closer to the starting lineup

Denver Broncos rookie tight end Noah Fant is inching ever closer to the starting lineup and has been getting plenty of action with the starters in camp.

The Denver Broncos released their first depth chart of the 2019 season on Monday, and the only rookie with the first unit was offensive lineman Dalton Risner. Every other draft choice was listed with the second or third team, but that doesn’t mean these guys won’t have gameday roles with the starters.

One player who is inching closer and closer to the starting lineup? First-round pick and tight end Noah Fant.

Fant opened up as the number two tight end on the depth chart, but he’s been working plenty with the starters at training camp. If you need evidence of that, take a look at literally every Broncos highlight reel from practice and note who Fant is catching his passes from.

Most of them are coming off of the right hand of Joe Flacco.

Fant is the Broncos’ most dynamic athlete at the tight end position on the roster by far. He runs a 4.50 in the 40-yard dash, has explosive leaping ability, and is a nightmare for linebackers to have to stay with.

The Broncos understand that getting Fant up to speed sooner rather than later is going to help the offense tremendously, as offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has pointed out that the most advantageous matchup for an offense is a running back on a linebacker.

A speedy tight end on a linebacker is probably not far behind.

Head coach Vic Fangio said he’s been ‘pleased’ with Fant’s blocking abilities, something that was also a question from many, I would be so bold as to say uneducated experts out there prior to his being drafted.

Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello had this to say about Fant in the early goings of training camp:

"“He is a quick learner. He’s got a skill set, and he can do just about anything. I’ll say this, I think that one of the things that was most undervalued about him coming in the draft that we felt very strongly about is I think he is an excellent run blocker. The zone system and his athleticism, I am excited about that. The pads went on, and he is really showing very, very well. We’re excited about that.”OC Rich Scangarello (quotes via Broncos PR)"

So not only do you have a guy the team clearly believes can be a mismatch in the passing game, they’ve got a guy they are more than confident in as a blocker as well.

Combine that with Fant’s steady albeit not ‘splashy’ development through the offensive installation stage, and you’ve got a guy who is just about ready to crack the starting rotation.

Even if Fant doesn’t surpass Jeff Heuerman as the Broncos’ starting tight end by the time they take on the Oakland Raiders in the first week of the season, he could very well out-snap Heuerman when all is said and done.

I think by the time the initial depth chart is released when the Broncos cut down to 53 players, Fant is going to be the first-team tight end and he’s going to lead the team in snaps at the position.

The Broncos didn’t draft a tight end in the first round just to bring him along slowly. They are going to let him eat and help the offense right away.