For the second time in three years, a former Hawkeye star is headed to a new destination.
The Iowa program accomplished a rare feat at the 2019 NFL Draft, getting two tight ends selected in the first round.
Tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, who went No. 8 (Detroit Lions) and No. 20 overall (Denver Broncos), respectively, became the first pair of tight ends who were teammates to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Both players changed teams at least once since joining the NFL in 2019, and now one of those former Hawkeye stars is on the move once again.
Noah Fant is reportedly headed to New Orleans on a new two-year deal
Fant was a true two-way tight end out of Iowa as a great blocker and pass catcher, but his freak athleticism is what got him taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
After catching 10 touchdown passes in three years with Denver, Fant was moved to Seattle in the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade in 2022.
Seattle's quarterback inconsistency ultimately doomed Fant, who caught only five touchdown passes in three years with the team, and they did not re-sign him.
After spending the 2025 seaon with the Cincinnati Bengals, Fant is reportedly on the move again after signing a new deal with the New Orleans Saints.
The #Saints make another addition on offense, signing former #Bengals TE Noah Fant, per me and @TomPelissero. He gets a 2-year deal. pic.twitter.com/26ZxnsUnW0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2026
Fant gives the Saints' offense a new weapon for quarterback Tyler Shough, and he should be an excellent complement to tight end Juwan Jennings.
Fant can be deployed as a pure blocking tight end to help the running game and can help improve the passing game, which showed signs of improvement after Shough took over late in the 2025 season.
Fant gets another fresh start in the Big Easy and will hope to push the Saints offense to the next level.