Kansas City Chiefs: Potential tight end prospects in 2019 NFL Draft
By John McCarty
A positioned headlined by Travis Kelce for years has quietly become a need for the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s a look at some tight ends to get to know in a really strong tight end draft class.
The Kansas City Chiefs, when they are good, have a quality tight end. Currently, Travis Kelce is holding down the position and doing so very well. However, he is not getting any younger and the Chiefs have no other tight end on the roster that has caught a pass.
At a minimum, the Chiefs must address depth at the position and must plan for the day they have to move Kelce, likely after the 2019 season. With what appears to be a strong tight end class in 2019, the Chiefs are likely to look early at the tight end position.
TIGHT END DRAFT PROSPECTS – NOAH FANT (IOWA)
The prototype flex/slot tight end in today’s passing league, Noah Fant is a wide receiver in a tight end body. He runs routes like a wide receiver, having lined up all over the offensive formation while playing at Iowa, both inline, in the slot, in motion and lined up in the backfield.
Good speed and size, Fant is a pass catching miss match for defenses, with diverse route running experience, good hands, explosive and strong.
The only true issue with Fant as a tight end is his blocking. In no way can his blocking be described as anything but adequate, and never would you want to rely on his blocking. He is best at interfering more than actually moving lineman or even linebackers off the point of attack.
Iowa rarely ran to his side, using fellow draft prospects T.J. Hockenson as blocker and Fant would seal backsides and run backside safeties off support with pass routes.
Fant would be an immediate contributor for the Chiefs in 2019 and beyond. Not the blocker Kelce is, Fant is every bit the pass catcher and perhaps better. He would immediately replace the production of Chris Conley and backup tight end Demetrius Harris, and could possibly replace Kelce after the 2019 season depending on how the coaching staff views the importance of the blocking aspect of the tight end.