Should the Broncos pick up tight end Noah Fant’s fifth-year option?

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, NFL teams are looking to the start of the new league year in March, free agency and the NFL Draft at the end of April. The Denver Broncos have a ton of work to do to their roster, and they don’t just have to add a superstar quarterback if possible.

They need to make the correct decisions with their own free agents, available free agents and prepare for the draft. The Broncos need to do this while also keeping 2023 and beyond in mind.

One of those decisions that weighs on this season but also next season and beyond is what to do with tight end Noah Fant. A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Fant just finished his third regular season and that means one thing: The Broncos need to decide on his fifth-year option.

The window opened back in January for NFL teams to pick up the option, with the final deadline set for May 2. Should the Broncos pick up Fant’s fifth-year option? Let’s take a look at what Fant has done, what Fant could do, and I’ll provide my opinion on whether or not the Broncos should pick up his option.

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Upgraded scheme, better QB

Fant has physical talent and he’s a hard worker who must be excited by the coaching changes the Broncos have made this offseason. It’s a new year and a new you – errr Noah Fant – in 2022 because of the emphasis on creative offensive football. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett is going to run a better offense than former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. That improved offensive scheme is going to be based on the West Coast offense – a design that can feature playmaking tight ends like Fant.

Fant creates mismatches every time he’s on the field. He’s too fast for linebackers to cover and he’s too big for safeties to cover. Even though Fant set career highs in catches (68) and receiving touchdowns (four), his yards per reception dropped from 14.1 (2019) to 10.9 (2020) to just 9.9 (2021). A big reason why those numbers dropped is because Fant is no longer the ‘seam ripper’ that he could be (and was as a rookie when Rich Scangarello was the OC). In order to get better numbers and be a bigger playmaker, Fant should be utilized on more routes that stretch the field.

An improved quarterback is going to be added somehow this offseason. That could be a huge upgrade like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. It could be a slight upgrade with someone like Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz or Kirk Cousins. No matter who the Broncos are able to add, they will have better quarterback play in 2022. With a better quarterback, Fant should be put in better position to make plays after the catch. Instead of getting checkdown passes from Teddy Bridgewater or having to wait on late passes (that were off target) from Drew Lock, Fant can run his route, get open, and get the ball on time and on rhythm.

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Tight end market

When you have a top-tier tight end, you don’t let that guy go. So, the question then becomes is Fant going to become that player? There’s also upcoming free agency where the Broncos could perhaps find that guy if they don’t project Fant to take that next step. As we’ve pointed out on DenverFan.com, adding a tight end could make sense this offseason.

With Fant on the roster, I doubt the team makes a play for a top-of-the-market tight end. This means guys like Dalton Schultz or Mike Gesicki are probably not bound for the Mile High City. These are good players with upside, but there’s no need to make that move with the tight end depth already available on the Broncos roster.

While Denver could make a play for some of the top tight ends on the market, they are more likely to go with third-tier free agents to add to the room – or they could bring back one of their own free agents in Eric Saubert. Even though he played more special teams snaps (302) than he did offensive snaps (290), I like what Saubert did when he was out there for the Broncos in 2021. He’s a journeyman tight end but showed he could be a valuable reserve player for the Broncos last season. I think Saubert could stay with the Broncos to give them depth, and his price tag would be low. Adding Saubert would be a good move for Saubert, and he wouldn’t get in the way of Fant’s production – and likely increase in production – this season.

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What about Albert O?

If the doesn’t pick up Fant’s option, it’s likely because they’ve found someone else to be their tight end of the future and that could be Albert Okwuegbunam. Drafted in 2020, Okwuegbunam is larger, faster, a better blocker and stronger than Fant. He played about half as many snaps as Fant did last season, but we’ve seen flashes from Okwuegbunam that show he can take on a larger role if needed.

His size makes Okweugbunam a great target in the red zone where he can box out smaller defenders and haul in passes with ease. His speed means that Okweugbunam can stretch the field down the seam, and he’s so big that his speed surprises defenders tasked with covering him over the middle. Okweugbunam’s blocking ability means it’s not a tell when he’s on the field – and he doesn’t need to come off the field in any situation – even short-yardage packages.

His strength allows Okweugbunam to run through would-be tackles and maximize yards after the catch on every target.
Hackett could decide to feature both players at the tight end position. However, there’s a jam-packed wide receiver room and only one football to go around in the passing game. So long as Fant is healthy, he’s going to get more snaps, more targets and more catches than Okweugbunam. His durability concerns (only 18 game appearances in two pro seasons) also mean Okweugbunam is likely to be a reserve once again in 2022.

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Summary

I think the Broncos need to pick up the fifth-year option for Fant. I believed in his talent coming out of college, and we have not yet seen him play up to his full potential in the NFL. An upgraded offensive system with a better quarterback should do the trick. There aren’t any better options out there in free agency, and that means Fant should get every opportunity to show he can be a top-tier tight end.

A fifth-year option for Fant pushes back the huge payday he could be getting when his contract is up. The top tight ends in the league, guys like George Kittle or Travis Kelce, make around $14 million annually. I could see Fant getting a deal that pays him around $12 million per year if not more. Controlling his money one more season – especially with better numbers possibly coming in 2022 – is a smart move for the Broncos.

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