It goes without saying that the Denver Broncos have high hopes for Noah Fant, the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The former University of Iowa tight end's place in the team's positional pecking order, though, will apparently be decided by on-field performance rather than draft position and long-term investment.
“He’s got to come in and compete with the other guys we have at the position,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said of Fant, per 247 Sports' Zack Kelberman. “They’ve had a four-week head start on him, so he’s going to have to come in here, work hard, prove his worth and earn whatever he can get.”
Denver wasn't exactly brimming with top-tier talent at tight end before drafting Fant. The team returns rising fourth-year pro Jeff Heurman, who led Broncos tight ends in catches last year with 31, 2017 fifth-round pick Jake Butt, and 2018 fifth-round pick Troy Fumagalli – both of whom finished the 2018 season on injured reserve.
It's no surprise the notoriously straight-edged Fangio would make Denver's rookies earn their snaps, but his team's lack of quality options at tight end almost assures Fant of significant playing time this season, assuming he's able to grasp the playbook. At 6-foot-4, 249 pounds, Fant combines good size with elite physical traits, as evidenced by his standout performance at the NFL combine when he led all prospects at his position in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 60-yard shuttle, and three-cone drill.
Fant, who entered the draft as a junior, had 39 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
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