NFL Draft 2019: 5 sleepers the Steelers should draft in the first round
By Joe Romano
Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
If the goal is to make life easier for Ben Roethlisberger while he’s still around and ease whoever comes next into the lineup, tight end needs to be addressed. Vance McDonald took hold over the starting spot for Pittsburgh but is just an average starting tight end. With Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell gone, there will be targets to spread around. An elite pass catching tight end could open up the offense and become whatever young quarterback is next’s best friend.
There is no better pass catching tight end in this draft than Iowa’s Noah Fant. This is the only selection on this list that wouldn’t feel like a big reach. Fant’s as close to a first round lock as it gets, even if he’s the second prospect from the same school at the same position drafted. Fant is a seam-busting tight end with an insane athletic profile. He’s the best athlete at the position and criminally under-used at Iowa. He’s an example of a player that will be a better professional player than college player.
Like Butler, this pick likely won’t happen. Fant should be long gone by the time 20 rolls around. Even if the tight end position is not valued as high, he’s too good to let slide this far. Second, McDonald is serviceable enough and Pittsburgh would need to see a completely depleted board else where to prioritize tight end. For the last point it is important to point out that the team is looking more for immediate impact players, and while Fant provides that, it leaves holes elsewhere on the roster that need to be upgraded.