Kansas City Chiefs draft wish list: Noah Fant, tight end, Iowa
By Grant Tuttle
PROSPECT STRENGTHS
Route Running:
The first thing that pops out on film when you watch Noah Fant is how smooth his route running ability is. He has a quick first step and can release off of the line of scrimmage as quickly as some wide receivers. He can plant his foot and cut upfield as well as anyone. While Fant is not as big as Travis Kelce, they can look similar from time to time in their route running ability.
Acceleration/Burst:
Perhaps my favorite attribute is Fant’s excellent burst. He can take his speed to another level very quickly. This is exhibited in his film with his ability to flat-out outrun defensive backs. When he breaks free in the middle of the field, he showcases very good speed. To me, he can look like an oversized wide receiver.
YAC Ability
When Fant catches the football, he can take the ball down the field a long way with his speed. He is not necessarily an excellent power runner. He is not overly physical, but he can make moves in the open field. I would feel confident dialing up screen passes to Fant on third and eight. He has that kind of special ability.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
I would be lying if I said that Noah Fant was not one of my draft crushes for this season. While my draft board is still forming, I believe Fant is one of the best playmakers in this draft class. The Chiefs are obviously not short of playmakers, but if Fant is available at 29, he is too good to pass up. In order for many fans to feel comfortable with the Chiefs drafting a tight end, they would need to fix address their issues on defense first. I would also conclude that this is a deep class for safeties.
If the Chiefs address the cornerback position, I believe that they could easily grab a safety that could contribute in round two or three. To me, these are the biggest needs on the team. That being said, to continue producing a high power offense, they need to continue to add playmakers for the future. I believe that Noah Fant could make a lot of sense for the Chiefs at pick 29.