The New England Patriots will enter free agency with a lot of holes on their roster. Their offensive line needs another makeover. They don't have a No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver, and they are thin on the edge, among other needs.
One sneaky need they have is at tight end. One player who's down on the list of a top analyst's available free agents is the Bengals' tight end, Noah Fant, who could be an option.
The Patriots have 31-year-old Hunter Henry as their No. 1 tight end. He's steady but unspectacular. Behind him, they had Austin Hooper, who's a free agent and also 31, and little else. They need to get younger and better at the position.
The best free agents on the market, according to Pro Football Focus, are Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Travis Kelce, Isaiah Likely, and David Njoku. The top guys will be more costly, and the Patriots need to prioritize other positions. It's a dilemma for Mike Vrabel that won't be easy to solve.
The Patriots need a tight end this offseason and Noah Fant might not be the answer
With the myriad and increasing needs the Patriots have to revamp their roster in Phase II of Mike Vrabel's rebuilding, tight end is a bit down the list. Nevertheless, if Hooper leaves as is expected, the need will be significant. One tight end rated 15th by PFF on their list of free agents is Noah Fant of the Bengals.
Fant is a 28-year-old veteran of seven NFL seasons. His best was in 2021 in Denver with 68 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns. His production has been diminishing since. In 2025, he managed only 35 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns. He's clearly been trending downward.
Yet, Fant's rating and recent production may be a way for the Patriots to address the position without breaking the bank. The need will be acute if Hooper leaves, and they could probably do worse than signing Fant as a stopgap, while still drafting a tight end in a middle and/or later round.
Noah Fant is an option but not a great one
Noah Fant's downward production trajectory is not the best option for the 2026 New England Patriots. Hunter Henry isn't getting any younger, and there's nothing behind him if Hooper leaves to either serve as a second tight end in double tight end sets or as a replacement for Henry.
While Vrabel's needs are substantial, his resources, as always, are limited. He still needs to maintain quality at a position that Josh McDaniels, his Offensive Coordinator, values highly. Fant may be a more cost-effective option in a pinch, but the Head Coach should aim higher.
Though he's rated only 10th on PFF's list of free agent tight ends, a better option is Cade Otton of the Buccaneers. He's unlikely to break the bank, but he's a young 4-year veteran entering his age 27 season and has caught 59 passes in each of the past two seasons for the Bucs.
Otton should be the clear choice for Vrabel to optimize his spending and get a younger tight end who may have a breakout season with Drake Maye throwing to him. Fant would be OK, but Otton is the far better choice.