The Seattle Seahawks are enjoying their new tight end, Elijah Arroyo, this preseason. He’s caught all four of his targets for 33 yards in his first two appearances in a Seahawks uniform. So far, the second-round draft selection is living up to the hype after dominating at Miami.
But while the rookie is still getting his feet wet in the NFL, the six-year vet he is replacing in Seattle is struggling to find a footing with his new team.
Noah Fant was released by the Seahawks quickly after Arroyo signed his rookie contract just before training camp. He didn’t spend long in the unemployment line, as the Cincinnati Bengals scooped him up and added him to their roster. While there is some opportunity at the tight end position for Cincinnati, it doesn’t appear Fant is taking full advantage.
Former Seahawks tight end Noah Fant still searching for his role in Bengals' Offense
In his first taste of preseason action with his new team, Fant didn’t receive a single target. Bengals quarterbacks targeted tight ends six times in the second preseason game against the Washington Commanders.
He was involved in rotations with the first team offense, though they were in two-tight end sets alongside veteran Drew Sample. Primary starter Mike Gesicki was held out of the contest due to a hamstring injury, but it was Tanner Hudson who picked up the bulk of the targets at the position.
Fant isn’t exactly known for his blocking skills; he sported a 42.3 run blocking grade from PFF (subscription required) in 2024. Drew Sample, on the other hand, has been a steady presence for the Bengals as a blocking tight end for the better part of the past six seasons.
Fant didn’t play in the first preseason game for the Bengals since he was such a late addition, and the Bengals apparently have a complicated offense. Still, Fant recently expressed his excitement for debuting his role in the Bengals’ offense soon.
How useful that role will be remains to be seen. Despite playing in less complicated offenses for the first six seasons of his career, Fant hasn’t produced a season fitting of his first-round selection by the Denver Broncos in 2019. His two most recent seasons in Seattle were disappointing, with just a single touchdown on 80 receptions.
Fant has reportedly been working with the ones and twos this preseason, so it appears his roster spot is safe. Still, with Gisiki and Hudson being more familiar targets for star quarterback Joe Burrow in an offense headlined by receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it’s hard to foresee Fant making a huge impact with the Bengals in 2025.
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