Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Noah Fant? "Perfect fix?" More like imperfect fix.

TD alt

By TD alt,
in Carolina Panthers

 Share

Recommended Posts

TD alt Mentor

TD alt

Posted
Posted

Dean Jones, the resident writer for Cat Crave, thinks that we should consider signing Noah Fant. Jones titles his article: 

Panthers quietly handed perfect fix for overlooked flaw at just the right time

He calls the TE position an "overlooked flaw," and even though I wouldn't necessarily go as far as that, I do believe that the Panthers would instantly buttress the position with a Fant signing.

The Panthers just may throw out feelers, and there are connections.

 

"Fant played for Panthers' tight ends coach Pat McPherson for two seasons. He was also in Seattle with head coach Dave Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik in 2022. This also happens to be a position group that is dangerously short of dependable options."

 

I guess it comes down to whether or not the Panthers believe that our guys can be the real deal, or at least fill the need that Canales and company have for this offense. I have been skeptical of the lack of TE involvement in the regular flow of the offense since Canales has taken over, but it may be because of the lack of legit and/or experienced personnel. Fant hasn't been spectacular. He is an apt move-TE though. He is a so-so middle of the pack-ish pass blocker. His run blocking grades leave a lot to be desired (save for one year). 

I guess that I could see it, but I just don't know if Fant moves the needle enough to spend the extra money on him. For a first rounder, he's been kind of a bust in my opinion. He's still NFL-worthy, and he's still in the prime of his career. But, I think I'm more in disagreement with Jones about thinking Fant is the "perfect fix." He just may be a more expensive, albeit more experienced, option than we already have.

 

https://catcrave.com/panthers-quietly-handed-perfect-fix-for-overlooked-flaw-just-right-time

  • Pie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
frankw Grand Master

frankw

Posted
Posted

I wouldn't be opposed to weighing it as an option but I don’t agree with presenting it as a major missed opportunity if we don't. Upon reading some comments on Reddit from fans of his recent teams he basically makes virtually no effort to block and does not like contact. The plus side is he will have some big games but then eventually completely disappear. All in all sounds like the quintessential Panthers TE.

  • Pie 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites
LinvilleGorge Grand Master

LinvilleGorge

Posted
Posted
9 minutes ago, frankw said:

I wouldn't be opposed to weighing it as an option but I don’t agree with presenting it as a major missed opportunity if we don't. Upon reading some comments on Reddit from fans of his recent teams he basically makes virtually no effort to block and does not like contact. The plus side is he will have some big games but then eventually completely disappear. All in all sounds like the quintessential Panthers TE.

Makes sense. I mean, his receiving stats aren't terrible. Basically mid-marginal starter/high end #2 type numbers. Gotta be some reason why a guy with that type of production who is only 27 years old is sitting on a couch.

Surprising for a guy coming out of Iowa. I mean, Iowa has basically become TE U in recent years.

  • Pie 2
  • Beer 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ECHornet Grand Master

ECHornet

Posted
Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, L-TownCat said:

The issue is who does he push down the depth chart?  When tremble comes back he’s TE1 and Sanders is TE2.  If we sign Fant are we ok limiting Sanders development and basically keeping the rookie we drafted off the field? 

If Tremble is TE1, then I think I agree with the writer and Fant needs to be signed. I like Tremble, but he has a long way to go before he’s at Fant’s level. 
 

ETA: I believe Sanders will be our TE1 if the room stays as is. 

Edited by ECHornet
  • Pie 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
LinvilleGorge Grand Master

LinvilleGorge

Posted
Posted
8 minutes ago, ECHornet said:

If Tremble is TE1, then I think I agree with the writer and Fant needs to be signed. I like Tremble, but he has a long way to go before he’s at Fant’s level. 
 

ETA: I believe Sanders will be our TE1 if the room stays as is. 

Seriously. I certainly hope that Sanders is TE1. I don't know that he's the long-term solution there but I'm pretty damn certain that Tremble definitely isn't.

  • Pie 3
  • Flames 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
L-TownCat Grand Master

L-TownCat

Posted
Posted
43 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Seriously. I certainly hope that Sanders is TE1. I don't know that he's the long-term solution there but I'm pretty damn certain that Tremble definitely isn't.

I put sanders at TE2 because they want him to play lighter and split out wide more.  Tremble and Mitchell will be the traditional blocking TEs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
frankw Grand Master

frankw

Posted
Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Makes sense. I mean, his receiving stats aren't terrible. Basically mid-marginal starter/high end #2 type numbers. Gotta be some reason why a guy with that type of production who is only 27 years old is sitting on a couch.

Surprising for a guy coming out of Iowa. I mean, Iowa has basically become TE U in recent years.

Ultimately sounds like a signing that would be a slight upgrade over what we already had in Ian Thomas. I'd probably just be more interested in giving the young TE's those touches.

Edited by frankw
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bear Hands Grand Master

Bear Hands

Posted
Posted

I've liked him since his rookie year as a prospect, but when he's been asked to play in a large capacity, he has simply not done well.   He does not really add anything, rather muddies up the room.  Fant is TERRIBLE as a blocker, a pure receiving TE.  

Let's just put Tremble aside since he's PUP (although I still like him as a TE2, but yeah he's not our future starter)...

Sanders has already shown better receiving skills than a Fant and has a nice ceiling.  Not to mention, he's got in-line run blocking skills.  I really want to see what he's capable of this year.  Also has a year+ experience now in Canales' offense, not to mention legit chemistry with Bryce.

And after Sanders, I also imagine our staff is waiting to see how Mitchell Evans looks in camp as he's got the in-line blocking skills.  If he looks fully capable of filling in behind Sanders, then I don't see a need. 

Overall, keep an eye out on early August moves.  They are usually soft indicators of how staff's view their rookie late rounders and roster overall.  This is a wait and see what the market presents and how they think their unit looks in camp.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CRA Grand Master

CRA

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

He has been a starter most of his career.  Why does anyone thing he would willing come here to be our 3rd TE?  

Probably come here because he would actually  be able to make a run for TE1 in reality.  

Tremble is our TE1 and while they aren’t cut from the same cloth….but overall Noah is a better TE to date 

  • Pie 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
kungfoodude Grand Master

kungfoodude

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Find a weaker overall TE room than ours. He's sitting on a couch right now. 

People drastically overestimate our TE's because Sanders had some good flashes and there is some Ian Thomas hype for Tremble still. The truth is that Tremble is an NFL JAG and Sanders is a very talented and very unproven player. 

I suppose the new drafted kid could make an impact but I am not sure I would put a lot of eggs in that basket.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Camp Fodder
      Jewell Out

      By Camp Fodder · Posted

      Uggh forgot about that
    • kungfoodude
      Noah Fant? "Perfect fix?" More like imperfect fix.

      By kungfoodude · Posted

      I am curious to see if Warren is the elite player that the Huddle Warren stans believe. I am always fairly wary of these first round TE's.
    • Anybodyhome
      Off Season Thread

      By Anybodyhome · Posted

      The Rossi things isn't going away, either... https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3312416/unfinished-business-7-players-to-watch-in-back-half-of-nhl-offseason The Wild and Rossi shouldn't be having any trouble hammering out an extension. Rossi, an RFA turning 24 in September, recorded the second-most points on the team last season (60 in 82 games). The smart, skilled, highly competitive 5-foot-9 Austrian is a homegrown top-six center. Minnesota has $10 million in cap space and no other significant spots to fill to finalize its 2025-26 roster. Problems lurk below the surface, however. Coach John Hynes demoted Rossi to the fourth line in the playoffs, dropping his nightly usage from 18 minutes in the regular season to 11 in the first-round series loss to Vegas. GM Bill Guerin's top to-do list item at the moment is to lock up Kirill Kaprizov. The superstar winger, who's been eligible for an extension since July 1, is due for Leon Draisaitl-type money (around $14 million average annual value) starting in 2026-27. Guerin has said there's no rush to sign, trade, or match an offer sheet for Rossi. If he stays, a short-term extension makes sense, since it gives both player and team flexibility. If he leaves, a trade is far more likely than an offer sheet. Half of the league could use a second-line center, and Rossi still has upside. The Hurricanes desperately need to upgrade at 2C (Jesperi Kotkaniemi isn't going to cut it) and have plenty of cap space. Ditto for the Sabres, who picked Jack Quinn one spot before Rossi went to the Wild in the 2020 draft. Mammoth bench boss Andre Tourigny coached Rossi in junior, and they don't have as much wiggle room, but trading top-six winger Nick Schmaltz (plus a pick) could make the math work. Guerin wants to make a so-called "hockey trade" here.
×
×
  • Create New...