By Sunday 
The Steelers’ offseason just got a little more intriguing — and maybe a little crowded in the tight end room.
Could Noah Fant Be Pittsburgh-Bound?
With the 2025 NFL season creeping closer, most rosters are more or less locked in. But one NFL analyst thinks Pittsburgh still has a trick left up its sleeve — and it involves a familiar name and $31 million worth of untapped potential.
In a trade pitch floated by CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, the Pittsburgh Steelers are linked to Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant, a veteran playmaker who has quietly racked up 300 catches, 3,305 yards, and 15 touchdowns over six NFL seasons.
Sure, Fant isn’t the splashy WR2 Steelers fans may be hoping for, but Benjamin believes the 27-year-old tight end could still offer solid value — especially considering his previous connection to Steelers assistant coach Zach Azzanni, who worked with Fant in Denver.
Why It Could Make Sense
Fant isn’t exactly Travis Kelce, but he’s no slouch either. He’s posted 500+ receiving yards in four of his six seasons, including a career-best 68 catches and 670 yards in 2021. For context, those numbers would place him among the top secondary pass catchers in most NFL offenses.
And under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who loves tight end-heavy schemes, the idea of pairing Fant with Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward might be too tempting to pass up. The Steelers could rotate multiple formations and keep defenses guessing, especially in red-zone scenarios.
Plus, from a salary cap perspective, Fant’s contract is up in 2025, and the Seahawks could save $9 million by moving him now — a win-win if Seattle’s ready to hand the reins to rookie Elijah Arroyo.
But… Is It Really Necessary?
Here’s where the brakes get pumped.
The Steelers already have a deep tight end group, headlined by Freiermuth and the towering Washington, with Heyward serving as a Swiss Army knife who can line up nearly anywhere. And Aaron Rodgers, now in Pittsburgh, already gave this tight end room a nod of approval during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
More importantly, the Steelers still need help at receiver. After dealing with drama around George Pickens and adding DK Metcalf, the WR2 spot feels shaky at best. Using trade capital on another tight end — even one with Fant’s resume — might be the wrong move at the wrong time.
The Verdict: Tempting, But Unlikely
There’s no denying Noah Fant would bring experience and familiarity to a Steelers offense trying to mold around Rodgers. He’s reliable, consistent, and could be acquired cheaper than a Kyle Pitts or Jonnu Smith.
But unless the Steelers plan to go full “tight-end-core” on offense, this feels like a luxury rather than a necessity. Still, if Seattle’s asking price is low and other WR targets fall through, don’t rule it out entirely.
For now though, it’s a flashy idea — not a pressing need.