NFL.com's top 25 draft prospects

[Blair Sanderson]

Noah Fant at #9 in these rankings done by Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com. Both Jeremiah and Brooks are former NFL Scouts.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...n=tw-cf-sf196699754-sf196699754&sf196699754=1

RANK
9


Noah Fant, TE

School: Iowa | Year: Junior
(BB: 19; DJ: 6)

Fant is one of my favorite players to study right now in college football. I love his explosiveness as a route runner and with the ball in his hands. -- DJ

 

[yiana]

Jon Ledyard and Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network and the Locked On NFL draft dailey podcast have Fant as TE #2 and fringe 1st rounder.

 

[hawktrooper1]

TE is the trickiest position to forecast as it’s entirely dependent on the team who drafts the player. Gronk was a beast at Arizona, but back injuries (missed Iowa game at Kinnick that year) raised concerns, he fell to the 2nd or 3rd round, and because he came under the tutelage of Brian Ferentz in New England, was able to launch a HOF career.

The two other best TEs of the last two decades (Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzales) were essentially Ahmad Wagner hoops to end zone converts. Then you look at the Alabama guy OJ (last name escapes me) who blew up in the title game two years ago, goes first round and is number 2 on the depth charts in Tampa Bay, where talent goes to die these days.

So even if Fant misses the first round, heck even the second round, he’s better off being draft by a team who knows how and wants to use a skilled, athletic tight end. That’s how you get generational money in the second contract at that position.

Side note: Jacksonville just lost their number one WR Marquis Lee, a marginal WR at best, and still cut Allen Lazard today. Further evidence that Lazard should’ve converted to TE in college.

 

[grayhair81]

8 defensive linemen out of the top 25. I watched Oliver play as a freshman-he could have gone to the NFL after his first year. Despite having their pick of stellar d linemen, 4 of the first 10 picks will be QB because perennial losers will be making their next attempt at a franchise QB. Yes, Cleveland, I am talking about you.

 

[grayhair81]

And this list is phony because Montgomery isn't on it.

 

[kceasthawk]

TE is the trickiest position to forecast as it’s entirely dependent on the team who drafts the player. Gronk was a beast at Arizona, but back injuries (missed Iowa game at Kinnick that year) raised concerns, he fell to the 2nd or 3rd round, and because he came under the tutelage of Brian Ferentz in New England, was able to launch a HOF career.

The two other best TEs of the last two decades (Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzales) were essentially Ahmad Wagner hoops to end zone converts. Then you look at the Alabama guy OJ (last name escapes me) who blew up in the title game two years ago, goes first round and is number 2 on the depth charts in Tampa Bay, where talent goes to die these days.

So even if Fant misses the first round, heck even the second round, he’s better off being draft by a team who knows how and wants to use a skilled, athletic tight end. That’s how you get generational money in the second contract at that position.

Side note: Jacksonville just lost their number one WR Marquis Lee, a marginal WR at best, and still cut Allen Lazard today. Further evidence that Lazard should’ve converted to TE in college.

Well not exactly. I'm pretty sure Gonzales played football at Cal as well as some basketball. To this point Wagner has played some basketball, and no football at all. We'll see what he does this year at UK, but I'd hardly make him out to be a HOF TE just yet.....

 

[T. Kimball]

This is the first that I've heard a reference to Lazard making the wrong decision to not go to tight end. I think it's an intriguing concept. Does anyone really believe that he would have played tight end at Iowa? I hope for this local kid that he gets picked up somewhere.

TE is the trickiest position to forecast as it’s entirely dependent on the team who drafts the player. Gronk was a beast at Arizona, but back injuries (missed Iowa game at Kinnick that year) raised concerns, he fell to the 2nd or 3rd round, and because he came under the tutelage of Brian Ferentz in New England, was able to launch a HOF career.

The two other best TEs of the last two decades (Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzales) were essentially Ahmad Wagner hoops to end zone converts. Then you look at the Alabama guy OJ (last name escapes me) who blew up in the title game two years ago, goes first round and is number 2 on the depth charts in Tampa Bay, where talent goes to die these days.

So even if Fant misses the first round, heck even the second round, he’s better off being draft by a team who knows how and wants to use a skilled, athletic tight end. That’s how you get generational money in the second contract at that position.

Side note: Jacksonville just lost their number one WR Marquis Lee, a marginal WR at best, and still cut Allen Lazard today. Further evidence that Lazard should’ve converted to TE in college.

 

[grayhair81]

Lazard was not coming to Iowa regardless of position. It would have been over his father's dead body.

 

[Fan In Black]

These guys are good. Really do their homework.