Noah Fant Released by Sea Sicks

[Mike in Horseheads]

SEATTLE -- The Seahawks released starting tight end Noah Fant on Sunday, the team announced.

Fant's future with the Seahawks had been uncertain because of his outsized contract and underwhelming production over three seasons in Seattle, and it became an even bigger question after the team spent a second-round pick in April on tight end Elijah Arroyo.

Fant's release, which comes two days before veterans are due to report to training camp, saves the team $9 million in cash and $8.91 million in cap space. Seattle will take on $4.5 million in dead money.

 

I seem to remember he was big time hyped when he was drafted. 

[Don Otreply]

Yup, lots of folk here were all hyped up about him, 

[BuffaloBillyG]

Fant is a steady player. Never really going to be a mega producer, but will get some key grabs each year. 

 

That said, he's pretty much hit his ceiling and I like what we have in our TE room better.

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Fant is a steady player. Never really going to be a mega producer, but will get some key grabs each year. 

 

That said, he's pretty much hit his ceiling and I like what we have in our TE room better.

 

Yeah, there really isn't a place for him here this year. We're not going to keep more than 3 and neither Knox or Kincaid are going anywhere this season and our 3rd is always a Blocking TE and we spent a 5th on him this very year. 

[Sierra Foothills]

I've heard of him!!!

 

[uticaclub]

TE will be a bigger need next off-season, when Knox will have to be cut or extended and we have to make a decision about Kincaid.

Edited July 21 by uticaclub

[billsfan89]

13 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Fant is a steady player. Never really going to be a mega producer, but will get some key grabs each year. 

 

That said, he's pretty much hit his ceiling and I like what we have in our TE room better.

He’s a nice producer but I think the Bills even if they wanted him (which they likely don’t) probably couldn’t secure him given that he’s probably gonna find an opportunity to start somewhere and the Bills simply can’t offer that open opportunity 

[MiltonWaddams]

IIRC correctly, his 40 time is the second fastest for a TE. I don’t think the Hawks ever used him properly. He would be good in a Jimmy Graham type of role. Not a standout blocker, which is what the Hawks are going to want as they transition back to a run-first team with Walker and Charbonnet in their back field.

[RoscoeParrish]

More name than game All Star.

 

A lot of hyper-athletic freaks at TE never seem to pan out.

 

Pitts, Howard, Fant etc etc.

 

Bowers may break a bad streak that’s lasted for quite awhile.

[Udubalum07]

With the way the dolphins tight end room looks like, I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up there. Also, the way they used Smith, last year, Fant could be used in a similar way and have some production.

[Utah John]

Fant was part of the haul that the Broncos gave up to Seattle in exchange for Russell Wilson. Even if Fant didn't turn out great, the two first rounders and the two second rounders the Seahawks also got make it easier to let Fant go.

[boyst]

2 hours ago, MiltonWaddams said:

IIRC correctly, his 40 time is the second fastest for a TE. I don’t think the Hawks ever used him properly. He would be good in a Jimmy Graham type of role. Not a standout blocker, which is what the Hawks are going to want as they transition back to a run-first team with Walker and Charbonnet in their back field.

This is why I could see him in Miami.

But I also think he stands a chance for a team with a young QB who is mobile that wants a moveable target - Commanders, Eagles, or NFC hopefully. 

 

I don't want good TE in the AFC 

[JP51]

I think we are better served finding out what we have in Kincaid...  Knox is an acceptable go to... if we were to make another signing I would like to see some DB depth... 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

His sister Ella is reportedly sad.  Canadian Tire is feverishly working with CFL teams to land Fant a spot on a roster, as well as a position on the Canadian Tire Corporation, marketing division.

[Paup 1995MVP]

23 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Fant is a steady player. Never really going to be a mega producer, but will get some key grabs each year. 

 

That said, he's pretty much hit his ceiling and I like what we have in our TE room better.

Why do you like what we have better?
 

Knox has minimal athleticism.  And Kincaid has been a pretty big disappointment so far.  Let’s hope he shows a whole lot more this season.  I think all things being equal Fant has more talent than Knox.  
 

But the Bills have  always loved the low ceiling Knox and gave him much too big of a contract extension.   Not sure why when his upside has never been anything special.  But he can block and make the occasional big play like the catch he had at Detroit.  

[BuffaloBillyG]

51 minutes ago, Paup 1995MVP said:

Why do you like what we have better?
 

Knox has minimal athleticism.  And Kincaid has been a pretty big disappointment so far.  Let’s hope he shows a whole lot more this season.  I think all things being equal Fant has more talent than Knox.  
 

But the Bills have  always loved the low ceiling Knox and gave him much too big of a contract extension.   Not sure why when his upside has never been anything special.  But he can block and make the occasional big play like the catch he had at Detroit.  

I am so tired of this being regurgitated left and right this off season.

 

This is the same guy that set team rookie receiving records just two seasons ago. If he played last year as injured as was talked about it's understandable he had a down year. Let's not suddenly act like the kid is Charles Clay. He does need to stay healthy and take a step forward, granted.  But there are a lot of pages left to be written on him before saying he's a disappointment. He still has the same upside he has coming into last year.

 

Knox is who he is. As you say, good blocker, makes a splash play here and there. His only issue is what the Bills chose to pay him. He does a lot of the little things that don't show up on fantasy sheets, but help the team win on the field. 

 

Fantastic is a decent receiving TE that disappears in a lot of games. He, like Knox are who they are at this stage of their career. And I think Knox is the better overall football player 

[The Frankish Reich]

I liked Fant when the Broncos drafted him. But he started with a dysfunctional offense, and now that time has passed his advantages - speed/athleticism - have likely declined while he doesn't appear to have improved in other (blocking) ways. In some alternative universe he would've been a real weapon; the wormhole to that universe is now closed.

[NewEra]

Which afc team will he join?  
 

I’ll go with Jax

[uticaclub]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I am so tired of this being regurgitated left and right this off season.

 

This is the same guy that set team rookie receiving records just two seasons ago. If he played last year as injured as was talked about it's understandable he had a down year. Let's not suddenly act like the kid is Charles Clay. He does need to stay healthy and take a step forward, granted.  But there are a lot of pages left to be written on him before saying he's a disappointment. He still has the same upside he has coming into last year.

 

Knox is who he is. As you say, good blocker, makes a splash play here and there. His only issue is what the Bills chose to pay him. He does a lot of the little things that don't show up on fantasy sheets, but help the team win on the field. 

 

Fantastic is a decent receiving TE that disappears in a lot of games. He, like Knox are who they are at this stage of their career. And I think Knox is the better overall football player 

*rookie TE record

 

How many receiving TEs have the Bills drafted in their franchise history? Not a high bar to clear. 4 TDs over 2 years in disappointing

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 hours ago, uticaclub said:

*rookie TE record

 

How many receiving TEs have the Bills drafted in their franchise history? Not a high bar to clear. 4 TDs over 2 years in disappointing

Wrong. 

 

He broke the team record for most receptions by ANY rookie in Buffalo Bills history. This includes WRs. Sammy Watkins had held that record.

 

He did also break the team record for single season receptions by any TE (not just rookie).  Pete Metzalaars had held that one. 

 

And if you want to cherry pick his 4 TDs through his first 2 seasons, fine. Coincidentally, that's EXACTLY how many rushing TDs James Cook had in his first two years...now people wanna pay him $15M a season. Funny how things can change in a season.

 

I get it. He dropped the pass to close out the season last year and people have a bad taste in their mouth. It was our last image headed to the off season. And yes, it sucks. But a healthy Kincaid has shown he is able to produce at the position in a manner this team has never had before.