Latest news with #Fant
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
6 potential post-June 1 trade/cut candidates who could find a fit with the Panthers
6 potential post-June 1 trade/cut candidates who could find a fit with the Panthers We are now officially in June—and you know what that means, right? Yes, more moves may be on the horizon. From June 2 on, NFL teams will be able to part ways with veterans at (relatively) reduced costs. As opposed to the first few months of the offseason, where a trade or release would require an organization to pay out remaining bonus money on a high-priced player in a single year, post-June 1 departures allow for that tab to be spread out over multiple years. In short, there's less dead money to deal with and more salary cap space to flex for this season. So, will there be any potential casualties in the coming days or weeks that may interest the Carolina Panthers? Here are six post-June 1 trade/cut candidates who could find a new home in Charlotte: TE Noah Fant (Seattle Seahawks) Seattle seems to be quite high on tight end Elijah Arroyo, whom they just selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft. That could make the 27-year-old Fant, a free agent in 2026, dispensable in the long run. The former first-round pick shared a sideline with Panthers head coach Dave Canales in 2022, when Canales served as the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach. With starting tight end Tommy Tremble likely to miss at least the start of the campaign after undergoing back surgery, Fant could reunite with Canales in Carolina—where the next two tight ends up on the depth chart are 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans. LB Germaine Pratt (Cincinnati Bengals) Like that tight end position, the Panthers are also balancing youth and a lack of depth at inside linebacker. As of now, 2024 third-round pick Trevin Wallace is one of two projected starters—alongside veteran Josey Jewell. If Carolina isn't fully confident with leaving the 22-year-old Wallace in the lineup, they'll need a more established presence in the middle of their defense. The productive and reliable Pratt could be a casualty for the Bengals, who might look to free up money to extend All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. CB Jalen Ramsey (Miami Dolphins) Ramsey's timeline and contract don't seem to match up with where the Panthers currently are. He'll be turning 31 years old in the middle of the season and is owed quite a bit of money on the remaining four years of his contract—no matter how much the Dolphins are willing to eat. He did, though, recently tweet out an interesting piece of praise for Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who won a Super Bowl with Ramsey in Los Angeles a few years back. So that, along with Carolina's need for defensive backs, can't be completely overlooked. CB Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers) Similarly to Ramsey, reeling in Alexander would require a lot of moving parts. He too, if traded, will come with a hefty contract and a decent-enough price tag. But the 28-year-old Alexander may be worth the squeeze. Pairing the two-time second-team All-Pro with Jaycee Horn would give the Panthers one of the most formidable cornerback duos in the entire league. CB Ja'Quan McMillan (Denver Broncos) McMillan, who will be 25 years old on Wednesday, doesn't have the profile of a typical post-June 1 casualty candidate. He's on a one-year, $1.03 million deal, and probably won't be cut given his effectiveness in 2024. He could, however, bring back some solid value in a possible trade for the Broncos—who might look to hand over slot duties to 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron. McMillan broke into the league under Evero, Denver's defensive coordinator in 2022, and can win over Carolina's nickel job right away. S Donovan Wilson (Dallas Cowboys) The Panthers also need an answer at the safety spot next to free-agent signee Tre'von Moehrig. And while that vacancy may ultimately be filled by fourth-round pick Lathan Ransom, Wilson would provide a more proven punch to the backend of the defense. Dallas has been hurting for some wiggle room, and could open up $7 million in cap space by releasing Wilson. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
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.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Seahawks eye $21 Million replacement as Noah Fant could be key to Jaguars' tight end revamp
Seahawks may trade Noah Fant with Jaguars eyeing him for 2025 (Image via: Getty Images) The Seattle Seahawks ' 2024 season, under the guidance of new head coach Mike Macdonald, showed promise with a 10-7 record. However, as the offseason unfolds, the team is making waves by undergoing massive changes. From letting go of key players to revamping their coaching staff, the Seahawks are clearly preparing for something big. One of the most surprising potential moves? Parting ways with veteran tight end Noah Fant , with rumors suggesting that the Jacksonville Jaguars could be the ideal trade partner. Operation Sindoor 'Op Sindoor's precision & execution was unimaginable': Rajnath Singh Operation Sindoor: India repels drone, missile attack across LoC Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Noah Fant's future with Seahawks is uncertain 5 SURPRISE Seattle Seahawks Cut Candidates Ft. Noah Fant, Drew Lock & Jason Myers Fant, a 27-year-old tight end with a solid track record, could be the next domino to fall in Seattle's offseason overhaul. After being drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2019 as a first-round pick (No. 20 overall), Fant showed promise, amassing 1,905 yards and 10 touchdowns over three seasons in Denver. When the Broncos traded him to the Seahawks as part of the Russell Wilson deal in 2022, the expectation was that Fant would emerge as a key part of Seattle's offense. Over the last two seasons, he's contributed 130 receptions for 1,400 yards and five touchdowns. Despite his solid stats, Fant's role in Seattle is now in flux, with the team taking a new direction. The acquisition of Miami's Elijah Arroyo in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft indicates that the Seahawks might not need Fant's services much longer. This has led to speculation that Seattle could be willing to part ways with the athletic tight end before the start of the 2025 season. Jaguars could benefit from Fant's versatility Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has undergone its own changes in the tight end room this offseason. After moving on from Evan Engram and others, the Jaguars are in search of a reliable and versatile tight end to complement their offense. With Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in the mix, neither player has yet proven themselves as a consistent starter, leaving second-year tight end Brenton Strange as the top option. If the Jaguars were to acquire Fant, it would immediately elevate their passing game. Fant's ability to stretch the field and make plays after the catch would provide quarterback Trevor Lawrence with an athletic weapon who could cause mismatches all over the field. Not only would this strengthen the Jaguars' offense, but it could also be the move that propels them to the top of the AFC South. Also Read: Former NFL player Kevin Ware Jr. sentenced for murdering girlfriend Taylor Pomaski: A horrifying tale of betrayal The Seahawks, on the other hand, could stand to gain valuable assets in return. With a team that's still shaping its future, trading Fant for a draft pick or a young player could be a smart move to further solidify their roster for the long term. In the world of NFL trades, the Fant-to-Jacksonville scenario is one that could reshape both teams' futures in unexpected ways. While Seattle might be shedding some of its star power, the Jaguars could be adding a much-needed piece to their offense.
New York Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Seahawks draft tight end Elijah Arroyo: How he fits, draft grade and scouting intel
The Seattle Seahawks used pick No. 50 in the 2025 NFL Draft on Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo on Friday evening. He's the third pick of the draft for Seattle, which selected guard Grey Zabel 18th on Thursday night and safety Nick Emmanwori 35th earlier Friday. Arroyo, listed 6-foot-5 and 254 pounds, caught 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He's the highest-drafted tight end of the John Schneider era; the previous high was Nick Vannett with the 94th pick in 2016. Arroyo ranked No. 41 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: 'A one-year starter at Miami (Fla.), Arroyo was an F tight end in offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson's RPO-based version of the Air Raid, lining up mostly in the slot (51.6 percent of snaps) and occasionally inline (39.4 percent). He had just 16 combined targets over his first three seasons with the Hurricanes as he battled a knee injury, but then delivered a breakout 2024, leading the FBS in yards per catch among tight ends (16.9). Advertisement 'An awesome athlete at 250 pounds, Arroyo gets in and out of his breaks with efficiency and speed to consistently create separation, which makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball (71.4 percent of his catches in 2024 resulted in a first down or touchdown). He will need to prove himself through contact in the passing game at the next level, where he won't be given as much space to operate. Overall, Arroyo needs further development as a route runner and blocker to reach his ceiling, but he can bring an immediate vertical element to an offense with his speed, fluidity and focused ball skills. He is easy to project as an NFL starter and a weapon for which defenses must account.' An elite athlete with terrific size and a crazy catch radius, Arroyo is a 6-4, 254-pounder who runs, cuts and moves like a 200-pounder. A move tight end who should remind many in Seattle of Noah Fant, Arroyo is also a willing blocker who has enough speed to win over the top against safeties and linebackers. He also missed a ton of time in 2022 and 2023 due to an ACL injury. Grade: A- This is an interesting landing spot, as Fant hasn't lived up to his pre-draft potential. The Seahawks have Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but the No. 3 role is open to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Fant and backup options. Arroyo has Jonnu Smith 2024-like potential. As with most tight ends, it usually takes a year, if not two, but Arroyo could surprise and should make noise for fantasy managers in 2026. Come back for more analysis on Arroyo shortly.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Noah Fant Dynasty Outlook: Buy, Sell Or Hold? (Dynasty Stock Market)
If you're new to dynasty, you may not believe that Noah Fant was once the dynasty TE5. In October of the 2020 NFL season, Fant would peak as the TE5, according to Keep Trade Cut. This wouldn't be just an extremely short peak, either. Fant would still rank in the top 10 until January 17th of, 2022. After a solid sophomore and junior season in the NFL, many were waiting on Fant to make that jump. It never came. Another piece of the puzzle is draft capital and prospect pedigree. Coming out of college, Fant was drafted in the first round (pick 20) by the Denver Broncos. While Fant never dominated at Iowa, this was because he was playing alongside T.J. Hockenson. That said, Fant flashed with 30 receptions for 494 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Another encouraging sign for Fant is his athleticism. Fant would record a Relative Athletic Score of 9.88, which is phenomenal. In a recent study, it's been found that RAS score is predictive of fantasy football success. Zach Rogers of Brainy Ballers writes, 'we found that altering this range to 8.8 to 9.9 RAS prevailed the final optimal range.' In 2020, Fant posted his best season to date with the Broncos. Fant would haul in 93 targets for 673 yards and three touchdowns during that season. Following a down year in 2021, Fant was dealt to the Seattle Seahawks in the Russell Wilson trade. From there on out, Fant would fail to bring in over 65 targets, preventing him from ever going over 7.5 PPG with the Seahawks. Jumping ahead to the current day, Fant has an interesting situation. With DK Metcalf out the door, Fant could finally see an opportunity to cement himself as an important piece of this offense. There are a few key reasons to be optimistic about Fant. At only 27 years old, Fant is still relatively young and we don't typically see tight ends break out for quite some time. For example, David Njoku never had more than 10.5 PPG until he was 27 (2023). On top of that, the Seahawks clearly value Fant as they extended him on 2 year, $21 million dollar contract. From that contract, he is currently the 12th highest-paid tight end (per year basis) in the NFL. The only player behind him is 4th-round draft pick (2024) AJ Barner. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp as his target competition, I expect Fant to get close to 90 targets in 2025. At 31 years old, Kupp shouldn't have a massive role in this offense, especially considering he plays a similar role to Smith-Njigba. The Seahawks are going to need another pass catcher and that could very well be Fant. The final verdict on Fant is that he is a player you should buy. With a KTC value of TE37 and 277th overall rank (Superflex), there's no downside in taking a shot on Fant. At cost, Fant could be one of the best investments if he goes out and has a TE1 season in 2025.
