Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Noah Fant is expected to be one of the first tight ends off the board, and it appears the Minnesota Vikings have some interest. The Vikings have a glaring need at offensive line but the teams' philosophy the last few years has been to take the best player available and at pick 18, that could be Fant.
Last year the Vikings also needed offensive line help, but in the first round, they decided to go with cornerback Mike Hughes who had a good season before getting injured.
The Vikings do need help at tight end especially as they prepare for the future. Kyle Rudolph isn't under contract after this season, and that is a role that Fant could quickly grow into.
Last year as a junior for the Hawkeyes, Fant caught 39 passes for 519 yards and seven touchdowns. Even if the team does decide to keep Rudolph past next season, he would still be a guy that would create a lot of mismatches.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com via vikings.com wrote that Fant is a “pass-catching tight end with the length, acceleration and speed to create matchup challenges both short and long. Fant is at his best in open space and on the move as his catch-focus appears to wane when coverage crowds him or he hears footsteps. He needs to get stronger and more competitive at the point of attack to help a run game.”
The first round of the NFL draft kicks off on April 25th in Nashville Tennessee.
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