By and large, the Seahawks decided to let their key free agents walk out the door this year. Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Damien Lewis, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson will all be suiting up for different NFL teams in 2024. Seattle made two exceptions to the rule, though. For one thing, they managed to re-sign star defensive end Leonard Williams to a big three-year, $64.5 million contract. They also re-signed tight end Noah Fant to a two-year, $21 million deal.
According to Pro Football Focus, the deal with Fant was the best move that Seattle has made in free agency so far, per Brad Spielberger at PFF:
“Fant should take on an even larger role in Seattle’s offense with the team moving on from both Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson this offseason, and his abilities after the catch were on display in 2023 when he was called upon. Improved pass protection for Geno Smith should hopefully enable him to work through his progressions and find Fant more frequently going forward.”
Last season Fant’s targets actually dropped from 63 to 43, and he was almost completely shut out in the red zone. He was targeted only twice all year inside the 20 and did not score any touchdowns. This criminal misuse of the athletic Fant is one of many reasons why moving on from offensive coordinator Shaen Waldron was the right call.
There was a case to move on from Fant and net what would have likely been a decent comp pick. However, it doesn’t take much imagination to see Fant dominating in Ryan Grubb’s offense. Keeping him in the fold and letting Grubb set him loose should give the Seahawks their first legitimate receiving weapon at this position since Jimmy Graham.
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