What the Saints are getting in newly-signed tight end Noah Fant

Free agency contained a bit of a surprise for fans when the New Orleans Saints signed tight end Noah Fant as one of their first moves. Fant was signed to a two-year deal worth a total of $8.75 million with $4.5 million guaranteed. He'll be paired with Juwan Johnson , giving the Saints offense among the better duo of receiving tight ends through the NFL.

New Orleans hasn't done much to address the tight end spot for years, which is why this move surprised some. It's a low-risk deal for the team, but could do a lot to open up their offense. Here's a closer look at what the Saints are getting in their new tight end.

Noah Fant

• Position: Tight End

• Age: 28

• Height: 6-feet, 4 inches

• Weight: 249 pounds

• NFL experience: 7 seasons

At Omaha Burke High School then Omaha South High School, Fant set Nebraska state career receiving records. That was more than enough for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who won the recruiting battle for his talents. As a sophomore with the Hawkeyes in 2017, Fant had 30 receptions for 494 yards and led the Big Ten with a school-record 11 touchdowns. He didn't have as many touchdowns in 2018, but still had seven to lead the team and had better statistical production with 39 catches and 519 yards.

Fant was the 20th overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos . He was the second tight end chosen, behind Iowa teammate T.J. Hockenson at 10th overall. As a rookie, Fant caught 40 balls for 562 yards and 3 scores to earn a spot on the 2019 NFL All-Rookie squad. He'd increase that production in 2020 with 673 yards on a team-high 62 receptions. Fant's output in 2021 was similar, as he caught a team-best 68 passes for 670 yards.

After the 2021 season, Fant was included in a trade to the Seattle Seahawks that sent quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver. Over the next three years in Seattle, Fant saw a dip in production but was still a solid weapon. He averaged nearly 44 catches and 467 yards per year with 5 total scores.

Last offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Fant to a one-year contract in free agency. He played in 15 games, but had just seven starts and the lowest offensive snap count (379) of his career. Fant had 34 receptions, but his 41 targets and 288 yards were also the fewest in his seven-year NFL tenure. He did score 3 touchdowns, with 13 of his receptions resulting in a first down.

Noah Fant brings a career production of 334 receptions, 3,593 yards, 18 touchdowns, and an average of 10.8 per catch to New Orleans. He won't be the featured tight end, instead backing up the athletic Juwan Johnson. Fant does bring underrated blocking skills and can still make plays downfield or after the catch as a receiver. He and Johnson gives the Saints the best tandem of tight ends they've had in several years.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency: What the Saints are getting in tight end Noah Fant