The Cincinnati Bengals sound like a team tired of the “revolving door” at the tight end position.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t address it in free agency again.
Case in point, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz suggesting the one key free agent the Bengals should look at as Noah Fant:
Fant has never quite lived up to expectations as a first-rounder, but that’s more an issue of usage than efficiency. Fant has put up positive DYAR in all five of his NFL seasons, and he ranked ninth among qualifying tight ends in receiving DVOA this past season. Every tight end on the Bengals’ roster is a free agent, so they’ll need to address the position in free agency and the draft. Imagine what quarterback Joe Burrow could get out of Fant’s first-round talent.
Fant, a first-round pick in 2019, never broke out in Denver and didn’t score last year over 17 games in Seattle, yet remains 26 years old and potentially in need of the right fit to meet those expectations.
But again, we’ll see if the Bengals want another rehab attempt on a short-team deal at the spot. On paper, it would be easy to see them re-signing Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson before drafting a long-term option as early as Round 1.
Still, Fant is a good example of the value that might be available on the market to a team that needs depth help and options that can possibly extend beyond a single season.
