Denver Broncos: Noah Fant poised for breakout season despite QB curiosity
Hot take for the upcoming 2021 season: Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant will have a breakout year that earns him his first career Pro Bowl nod.
The reason is quite simple. He’s been quietly establishing himself as a reliable target who appears to be part of the Denver Broncos’ long-term plans, and regardless of who is under, Fant will continue to prove to be the tight end that Patton and Co. hoped he could be.
The third-year product out of Iowa continued to show flashes of promise for what’s to come over the past two years, as he not only increased his receptions from 40 in 2019 to 62 in ’20 but yardage as well when he racked in 673 yards last season against 562 his rookie year.
One of the more intriguing storylines for Fant going into the season is how his relationship with current starter Drew Lock will further develop if Lock is indeed the man behind center in week one, as Fant is one of his most trusted and dependable targets.
What makes Fant so dangerous is how can create mismatches, whether lined up against a linebacker or the secondary. At 6’4″ and 249 pounds, Fant has the rare physical attributes that can cause an opposing defense trouble while using his size to his advantage, particularly in the red zone. Denver can greatly improve in that area, considering they were 27th last year in red zone scoring.
In addition to his build, the pure athleticism that Fant possesses is what can put him over the 1,000-yard mark and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Ultimately he’s built like a tight end, yet plays like a wide receiver through the way that he comes in and out of his breaks and creates space.
While one could point out that Fant has neither played a full 16 games or hit 100 yards at all his last two seasons, they could fail to realize that he did have two 100-yard games his rookie year.
What also will likely help will be the fact that rising star Courtland Sutton will return from a torn ACL, last year’s number 15 pick Jerry Jeudy will already require attention, and running back Melvin Gordon will be a threat out of the backfield.
It could be seen as a crowded room for the one throwing, but it also gives Fant the ability to work where he’s comfortable knowing that it essentially can be a pick your poison type of offense. He has steadily improved on the aspects that were weaknesses for him his rookie campaign.
His footwork off the ball against single coverage and after the catch running ability clearly showed his second year and should only get better in year three.
Not quite knowing if the Denver Broncos are going to shake up the quarterback position with the addition of a veteran presence for competition or just allowing Lock to prove once and for all if he is the franchise guy, Broncos Country can rely on the fact that Fant is developing into the next big tight end.
Something that will come to fruition by the season’s end.