Report: Vikings meet with top 2019 tight end prospect at the Combine

During their time at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine this week, the Minnesota Vikings reportedly met with Iowa tight end Noah Fant.

Looking at some of the top offseason needs for the Minnesota Vikings this year, upgrading at tight end doesn’t appear to be a huge priority for them. However, the Vikings have never been shy about drafting the best player available, regardless of position.

So when it comes time for Minnesota to make their first-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, adding a talented tight end to their roster may actually be a possibility.

One tight end prospect that has apparently caught the Vikings’ eye this year is Iowa’s Noah Fant. According to KSTP Minnesota’s Darren Wolfson on Sunday, Fant was one of the players the Vikings met with during this week’s scouting combine.

The former Iowa tight end is arguably the best prospect in his position group this year. At the combine this week, the 6-foot-4, 249 pound Fant ran a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, finished with a 39.5 inch vertical, and put up 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

During his last two seasons at Iowa, the young tight end hauled in a total of 69 passes for 1,013 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Fant is expected to be one of the first tight ends off the board in this year’s draft, so Minnesota would likely have to use their first-round pick to add him to their roster. Since their inaugural season in 1961, the Vikings have never used their first-round draft selection on a tight end.

Minnesota’s decision to go after Fant will likely depend on what they do with Kyle Rudolph for 2019. With a cap hit of over $7 million this year, Rudolph is a candidate to be a possible salary cap casualty.

If the Vikings opt to part ways with their veteran tight end, Fant would likely be a more than suitable replacement.