Bumpus: New Seahawks TE Noah Fant can have career year in 2022

Despite some uncertainty at the quarterback spot, the Seahawks enter the 2022 season with plenty of offensive playmakers.

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Seattle returns a star receiver tandem in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as well as running back Rashaad Penny, who ended 2021 on an absolute tear. Additionally, the Seahawks used a second-round pick on running back Ken Walker III.

While those players all figure to be focal points of Seattle’s offense in 2022, a big new target in the passing game is former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus‘ pick to have a career year this upcoming season for the Seahawks.

“It’s going to be Noah Fant. You can say Rashaad Penny. I think Rashaad is going to have a good year. But I think it’s Noah Fant,” Bumpus said during Friday’s Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports 710 AM.

Fant, 24, comes to the Seahawks after spending his first three NFL seasons in Denver with the Broncos after they took him in the first round in 2019. Fant was a key part of the trade the Seahawks and Broncos made that sent star quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver.

Through three seasons, Fant has totaled 170 catches for 1,905 yards and 10 touchdowns, even with some inconsistency at both the quarterback spot as well as at offensive coordinator during his time in Denver.

“Last year, he wasn’t no chump. (He had) 68 catches, 670 yards and four touchdowns,” Bumpus said. “… I think Noah Fant has everything it takes to be in elite tight end in this league. The question is who’s gonna throw him the football?”

The Seahawks have Fant’s teammate in Denver, Drew Lock, on the team as he was part of that same trade, and Geno Smith is also on the roster after serving as Wilson’s backup the last three seasons.

“Say it’s Drew Lock? Guess what, Drew Lock threw him the rock over there in Denver. There’s some chemistry already there,” Bumpus said. “I think Geno is gonna run the offense (well) if he’s (the starter).”

There’s also the possibility of adding a more proven starter at quarterback, which could help Fant as well.

“But if you get a guy like Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo and you’re running the offense that I think that this team is going to run, I think you can see Noah Fant with 75 catches and 700 yards and five or six touchdowns,” Bumpus said. “And you team that up with what’s going on on the outside (at receiver), if (Fant) balls out at the tight end spot, the outside is gonna hurt a little bit, but if you can still have two receivers (in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett) around 900 yards and eight to 10 touchdowns a piece, things are rolling. I think we’re gonna see a lot of versatility in this offense, starting with Noah Fant … If Noah Fant gets going, this offense is going to be rolling.”

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