What to expect from Noah Fant in his first season with the Saints

METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 03: Noah Fant #87 of the New Orleans Saints attends the OTA Offseason Workout at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 03, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints entered the offseason looking to add more proven playmakers to their offense, and signing Noah Fant could end up being one of their more underrated moves.

Fant provides valuable experience and athleticism to a Saints offense that has been searching for consistency at the position behind Juwan Johnson.

The former first-round pick has shown throughout his NFL career that he can be a reliable receiving threat-especially as a red zone target. His ability to stretch the field and create mismatches gives New Orleans another weapon in the passing game, particularly in the middle of the field.

What makes Fant especially intriguing is the opportunity in front of him. The Saints did select Georgia TE Oscar Delp in the third round of the recent 2026 NFL Draft, but having a dependable target who understands NFL defenses and route concepts can be beneficial for any young quarterback. If Johnson goes down with an injury, Fant has proven that he can be a reliable starter for an NFL offense.

That said, expectations should be reasonable. Fant does not need to become one of the Saints top pass catchers to make a meaningful impact. If he can provide consistent production as a pass catcher while serving as a dependable contributor and reliable blocker, the Saints will likely consider his first season in New Orleans a success.