Latest news with #Barner
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Noah Fant ranked as No. 25 tight end according to PFF
Noah Fant ranked as No. 25 tight end according to PFF When the Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos prior to the 2022 season, one of the assets they received in the blockbuster deal was tight end Noah Fant. The athletic former Hawkeye has been in Seattle ever since, and unfortunately, he has not turned into the weapon many had hoped he would be. I for one have been frustrated at the lack of usage by the tight end position in general by both Shane Waldron and Ryan Grubb, and am hopeful Klint Kubiak will finally figure out a way to get players like Fant more involved. Still, part of the blame does fall on Fant as well. His best season with the Seahawks was his first one, where he hauled in 50 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns. In the two years since then, he's only scored one touchdown and his best yardage output was 500 yards in 2024. The lack of production is why Pro Football Focus ranked Fant rather low on their tight end rankings. Heading into the 2025 season, Fant is (fittingly) at No. 25 overall in the league. Here is what PFF had to say about the presumptive Seahawks starter: Fant has consistently generated yards throughout his six-year career, but his touchdown production has dropped off over the past two years. He earned a 70.2 PFF receiving grade in 2024 but could see a dip in his production if rookie Elijah Arroyo, Seattle's second-round pick, is able to hit the ground running. It's not just Elijah Arroyo that Fant may have to worry about, it's second year player AJ Barner as well. Last season, Barner had 18 less receptions but found the end zone four times as a rookie. Had Fant not scored in the Week 18 finale, Barner would have had as many touchdowns in one season as Fant had in nearly three with Seattle. Fant is entering the final year of his contract with the Seahawks, and carries a $13 million cap hit. Seattle has the room to carry it, but it's hard to imagine he will be a high priority to re-sign for 2026, and it's hard to envision the Seahawks could net a good return in a trade. It will likely be one more season in the Emerald City for Fant as Kubiak gets Arroyo and Barner up to speed.
USA Today
24-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks TE Noah Fant named potential cap casualty
Seattle Seahawks veteran tight end Noah Fant was a contributing member to the offense in 2024. The well-traveled pass catcher recorded 48 receptions for 500 receiving yards and a touchdown, surpassing his numbers from 2023. Fant is now scheduled to enter the final year of his contract in 2025. Fant is slated to carry a hefty cap number of $13.4 million with a base salary of $8.4 million. Pro Football Focus recently identified Fant as a potential offseason salary cap casualty. General manager John Schneider would save $8.9 million against the cap while inheriting a manageable dead money charge of $4.5 million, according to Over The Cap. Who could be released this offseason? 15 cut candidates: — PFF (@PFF) February 22, 2025 'Seattle's offense leaned conspicuously heavily on rookie A.J. Barner last season, which might be an ominous sign of things to come for Fant,' Bradley Locker wrote. 'The 27-year-old turned in a solid 70.2 PFF receiving grade, but his 34.5 PFF pass-blocking mark was the sixth-worst among qualifying tight ends. Given that Fant will be a free agent next offseason and that cutting him would clear $8.9 million, moving on might be the ideal play. After all, Seattle appears likely to keep deploying Barner and could land one of several intriguing tight ends in the draft.' It's true that Barner impressed as a rookie, totaling 30 receptions for 245 yards and a position-high four touchdowns. The Michigan standout projects to take another developmental step forward as a sophomore in 2025. Releasing Fant would create opportunities for Barner to be Seattle's go-to tight end this coming season. The 2025 NFL Draft also features a deep pool of tight end prospects. One recent mock draft from CBS has the Seahawks selecting Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in the first round. Schneider could conceivably draft one to pair with Barner, fielding a high-upside duo of rookies on affordable, team-friendly contracts. Fant is at legitimate risk of being released this offseason.
