After acquiring quarterback Joe Flacco in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason, the Denver Broncos knew they needed to put more weapons around him, particularly at tight end.
Flacco loves to use his tight ends in the passing game and the Broncos did not have a field-stretching tight end on the roster (at least not one that has stayed healthy). So Denver selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant with the 20th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday evening.
“We obviously want to get [Flacco] as many weapons as we can,” Elway said. “With weapons sitting like that on the board, we felt fortunate that he was there. Joe likes the tight ends and stretching the field and especially with what we’re going to do offensively, it’s a good fit all around.”
Fant is well aware of Flacco’s tendency to feed tight ends with targets.
“Oh, 100 percent,” Fant said. “Flacco is a guy that, like you said, likes to target the tight end, and he likes to give the ball to him. Being in a situation like that, I couldn’t ask for better [spot for] a tight end.
“I would argue that I’m in the best situation for a tight end in this draft, being with the Denver Broncos. I am super, super — I can’t express how happy I am about that. I’m just looking forward to it.”
Fant won’t be handed a starting job but he’ll be an early favorite to emerge as the team’s No. 1 tight end in 2019. He has a perfect quarterback to help introduce him to life in the NFL.
“I’m super hyped about it,” Fant said. “Joe Flacco has been a Super Bowl quarterback. He’s a legend. I’m super stoked to get in there and get to work.”
