Minnesota Vikings: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft brings O-line help
By Joe Kipp
Round 1, Pick 18: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
There’s been debate all offseason over Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, regarding who’s the better Iowa tight end. At this point in the draft, Hockenson very well could be gone, so Minnesota decides to grab the next best option.
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Fant may as well have his position designated as ‘dynamic weapon’ rather than tight end or receiver. The 6-4, 249-pounder ran a blazing 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He added a 39.5-inch vertical, 127-inch broad jump, 6.81-second 3-cone drill, 4.22-second short shuttle and benched 20 reps of 225 pounds. He finished first for his position in five of the seven drills.
"“Pass-catching tight end with the length, acceleration and speed to create matchup challenges both short and long. … His ability to uncover and hit big plays will make him a coveted prize for teams ready to add a ‘move’ tight end as their new matchup toy.” – NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein"
Fant could be the missing piece for the Vikings’ offense. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen are great in the short and intermediate passing game, but Minnesota currently lacks a reliable vertical threat. Not to mention current starting tight end Kyle Rudolph isn’t getting any younger. The Vikings have any particularly large holes on the roster besides offensive line, which is why Fant is a nice add.