The Denver Broncos didn't take a quarterback with their first pick in last month's draft, and they still managed to get one in the second round in Drew Lock. Instead they traded down with the Steelers, they landed tight end Noah Fant from Iowa with the 20th overall pick.

The Broncos haven't had a dependable tight end since Julius Thomas who left in free agency in in 2015. They're counting on Fant for big things. The offense has gotten a bit stale in recent easons, and it is looking to spice things up with new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. Fant might not breakout as a rookie since most tight ends take a while to adjust to the pro game, but he'll be a huge part of the offense for years to come. Whether it's Lock or Joe Flacco under center, Fant will be a major asset in 2019 and beyond. Here are three things to know about the former Hawkeye:

1. He has the Iowa record for touchdown catches in a season by a tight end

Fant had a monster sophomore season. He never put up the craziest receiving numbers in terms of yards, but he was always one of the best redzone threats in the nation. In 2017, he caught an absurd 11 touchdown passes, which set a school record for a single-season performance by a tight end. The statistics are even more impressive when you consider that he was splitting time with teammate and fellow first round pick T.J. Hockenson. Iowa has churned out a bunch of notable tight ends, so this is a pretty big achievement.

2. He barely played as a freshman

Fant wasn't an instant star at Iowa. In fact, he barely played in his first season on campus. He appeared in only six games, and caught just nine passes for 70 total yards. The fact that he was unheard of after his freshman season makes his breakout in 2017 all the more notable. He truly came out of nowhere, which is impressive. He wasn't highly touted as a recruit either, as 247 Sports had him ranked as the 536th player nationally after his senior season in high school. He didn't have a ton of offers from power conference schools, so he'll always have that chip on his shoulder.

3. A lot of scouts think he needs work as a blocker

Fant is dynamite as a receiver, and is a truly unbelievable athlete. He'll be a weapon right away for the Broncos as a pass-catcher, but many analysts think he needs to improve as a blocker. NFL.com's draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes that “he needs to get stronger and more competitive at the point of attack to help a run game, but if that never happens, his ability to uncover and hit big plays will still make him a coveted prize for teams ready to add a move tight end as their new matchup toy.” He also writes that he “needs to compete harder on backside blocks.” Despite the concerns, Broncos fans shouldn't be too worried. Fant has the athleticism and physical tools to develop into a nice blocker, as long as he is coached-up well.