The Oakland Raiders might not be done adding impact playmakers this offseason. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are conducting a pre-draft visit with Iowa tight end Noah Fant on Monday.
The #Raiders are hosting #Iowa TE Noah Fant today, source said. They pick No. 4 and No. 24 (and No. 27).
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2019
Fant, considered one of the top three tight ends in the 2019 draft class, left the Hawkeyes' program in late November to focus on preparing for the NFL draft. Though the junior had 39 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns last season, he parted ways with the team amid ongoing frustration about his role in the offense. Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenstein, ahead of his teammate on most draft boards, emerged as the preferred tight end of head coach Kirk Ferentz in 2018 despite Fant coming off a sophomore season in which he led the country in touchdown catches and yards per catch by a tight end.
At 6-foot-4, 249 pounds, Fant's performance at the combine was arguably the most impressive of any player with respect to his position. He ranked first among tight ends in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 60-yard shuttle, and three-cone drill, also placing top-five in the bench press and 20-yard shuttle. He was one of the best performers at his position in literally every means of athletic testing conducted in Indianapolis.
Needless to say, Fant's prodigious physical gifts make him an attractive pass-catching option at the next level, even as he leaves much to be desired as a blocker and questions remain about his motor and overall work ethic. He'd be a nice addition for the Raiders, who lost longtime tight end Jared Cook, a similar player, to the New Orleans Saints in free agency.
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