The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to New Orleans Saints tight end Noah Fant as a possible addition ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, according to a suggestion from FanSided’s The Viking Age.
Adam Patrick of The Viking Age raised Fant as an option for Minnesota on Monday, citing the team’s need for more experience at the position. The Vikings’ offense has drawn most of the recent attention for its issues at quarterback and running back, yet the tight end group has also thinned out.
Josh Oliver suffered a torn biceps in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve after surgery. He is not expected to return this season. That left T.J. Hockenson as the clear starter, with limited depth behind him.
“Tight end depth took a big hit for the Vikings earlier this year when Josh Oliver suffered a season-ending torn biceps. T.J. Hockenson is still at the top of Minnesota’s tight end depth chart, but the team is currently one snap away from having Gavin Bartholomew or Ben Yurosek take over as their No. 1 tight end,” Patrick wrote.
The backups have limited NFL experience, which has fueled talk of adding a veteran before the deadline. Patrick has argued that a move would reduce the risk of relying solely on younger players if Hockenson misses time.
“In order to prevent that from happening, the Vikings should strongly consider trading for a veteran tight end,” he added.
Fant, 28, brings eight seasons of experience. He was selected 20th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft and has also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Saints this offseason.
In 2026 with New Orleans, Fant has 12 receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns through seven games. He has already matched his touchdown total from last season.
With the Bengals in 2025, he finished with 34 catches for 288 yards and three scores across 15 games. Earlier in his career, he averaged 43.3 receiving yards per game with the Broncos in 2020 and 2021, and 35.7 yards per contest with Seattle in 2024.
Over his career, Fant has 346 receptions for 3,689 yards and 21 touchdowns. According to Spotrac, he has earned roughly $39.1 million in his NFL career.
“Losing Oliver to a season-ending torn bicep injury was never going to be easy for the Vikings, but they can’t just keep chugging along with Hockenson and a tight end room filled with guys who are just getting their first-ever NFL snaps this season,” Patrick wrote.
“Adding at least one veteran tight end before Tuesday’s deadline would go a long way for Minnesota.”
Fant’s current contract with the Saints is a two-year deal worth $8.75 million that he signed in March. Any trade would require agreement on compensation and the remaining salary.
The Vikings enter the final stretch of the season with a strong record, and their defense has been a strength. Adding a proven tight end could give the offense another reliable option in the red zone without a major roster overhaul.
Whether Minnesota pursues Fant or another veteran remains unclear with the deadline approaching. Teams often wait until the final hours to complete deals, and the Saints’ willingness to move him has not been confirmed.
The conversation around Fant highlights how even contending teams look for incremental upgrades at the deadline when depth is tested by injuries.
