Noah Fant is a complex player. One can clearly see that he has the physical ability to catch the ball and run fast for a player his size. He should be able to break away from linebackers and safeties fairly well, but the Seattle Seahawks tight end also has not been overly productive when it comes to scoring touchdowns.
In fact, since Fant was traded to Seattle as part of the deal that sent Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, Fant has caught just five total touchdown passes. He had zero in 2023. He had zero in 2024 until the very last game of the season. He became much more of a dump-down receiver instead of a real force in the offense.
New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's offense certainly uses tight ends quite a bit, but not ones who are pure receivers who might be capable of explosive plays. Fant is a decent blocker but not a real fit in Kubiak's system. Second-year player A.J. Barner is, though. In other words, Barner is likely TE1 next season, whether Fant is on the team or not.
Noah Fant could be gone from the Seattle Seahawks based on NFL Combine interviews
Fant's biggest issue entering 2025 for Seattle is that he is more expensive than his past production implies. He was re-signed by Seattle last offseason for two years, and the final year of his deal (which is next season) has a cap hit of $13.41 million. Releasing the tight end would save the team $8,910,000.
That is likely too much to pass up for the Seahawks, a team that is struggling to get under the projected salary cap this offseason. Plus, the players Seattle has been reported to have spoken with at the 2025 NFL Combine imply the team is looking for a tight end, possibly one to replace Noah Fant.
One of the tight ends the Seahawks talked to was Oregon's Terrance Ferguson. He probably jumped up draft boards as he had a tight end-position best in terms of 40-yard dash (4.63), vertical leap (39 inches), and 10-yard split (1.55). He does need to add weight as he is just 230 pounds, but he was consistently productive in college and a solid blocker.
Another tight end Seattle spoke with is Jalin Conyers of Texas Tech. He was not as productive as Ferguson in college, but he is bigger overall at 6'4" and 250 pounds. Seattle might see him as a great fit for Kubiak, too. In fact, the team might see him as a better fit than the expensive Noah Fant.