Tight End May Be An Underrated And Undervalued Priority For The New Orleans Saints This Offseason
Tight end can be a difference maker for an NFL team. Travis Kelce helped lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl championships and four trips to the big game in the last five years. His opponent in Super Bowl LVIII, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, is recognized by many as second only to Kelce at the position.
The other two teams in the conference title games had dynamic tight ends as well in Sam LaPorta of the Lions and Baltimore's Mark Andrews. LaPorta, a rookie, was joined by Buffalo TE Dalton Kincaid as two players that made enormous impacts in their rookie seasons.
Other tight ends like T.J. Hockenson (Vikings), David Njoku (Browns), Dalton Schultz (Texans), Evan Engram (Jaguars), and Dallas Goedert (Eagles) either led their teams or were among team leaders in receiving. All were playoff teams or squads that narrowly missed the postseason.
New Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak heavily uses the tight end in his system. Kittle had 65 receptions for 1,020 yards and six touchdowns for the 49ers last year. Prior to that, lesser tight ends like Greg Dulcich in Denver and Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr., and Tyler Conklin with Minnesota had success in Kubiak's system.
Kittle had been a highly productive player with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco before Kubiak's arrival. This system has a long track record of extremely productive tight ends dating back with Rick Dennison (also now with New Orleans), Mike Shanahan, and Gary Kubiak. Hall of Fame TE Shannon Sharpe, who spent most of his career playing for Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak, is the best example. Players like Brent Jones, Owen Daniels, and Tony Scheffler also performed well in this very same system.
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) catches a touchdown pass against the New York Giants. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Do the Saints have the talent at tight end for Klint Kubiak's offense?
New Orleans tight ends combined for 64 receptions, 600 yards, and nine touchdowns last season. That does not include jack-of-all-trades weapon Taysom Hill, who caught 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
Not great combined numbers, to be sure, but the passing attack was primarily centered around the wide receivers. It also didn't help that offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael misused the position, or that a tight end often had to be kept in as an extra blocker on passing plays because of ineptitude along the offensive line.
Juwan Johnson, a converted wideout, has been in the league four years but just two at tight end. He led the position with 37 receptions for 368 yards and four scores. Johnson has the athletic advantage over most linebackers and physical advantage over a lot of defensive backs. He's a legitimate receiving option, but can struggle to get separation when lined up as an in-line tight end and had issues with drops last season.
Foster Moreau was also a teammate of QB Derek Carr with the Raiders for four seasons. The only traditional in-line tight end of the group, Moreau had 21 catches for 193 yards and a score in 2023. He's the best blocker of any tight end on the roster, but offers little as a downfield threat.
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) catches a touchdown over Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Thirteen-year veteran Jimmy Graham is the only New Orleans tight end who will be a free agent. Currently on a grueling rowing mission through the Arctic Ocean, it's unclear whether the 37-year-old Graham wishes to continue his playing career. He's certainly shown he can still play. Graham had just six receptions for 39 yards last season, but four of those catches resulted in touchdowns.
Inexplicably, Carmichael often acted like he forgot Graham was even on the roster. Graham has the second most career touchdown receptions in franchise and is sixth in both receptions and yardage. He may no longer have his elite athleticism, but still has tremendous size and ability to make plays in traffic.
There are a lot of questions around how Taysom Hill will be used by Klint Kubiak. Hill is an underrated receiver and has the work ethic and football IQ to learn any role. With his outstanding rushing skills and ability to throw the ball, it's unlikely Kubiak takes away from that valuable versatility by using him as a traditional tight end often.
Johnson and Hill seem the most likely to benefit from Kubiak's presence. It's an offensive system that creates mismatches by using motion and formations to take advantage of a player's versatility. The main question is, does Juwan Johnson have the talent to grow into a bigger role? If not, then the Saints could look to add another tight end this offseason.
Oct 30, 2022; Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. (84) avoids the tackle of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton (33). Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Free agency might be one route. Tight ends do not typically attract high-end money on the open market and there are a few intriguing names available.
Dalton Schultz of the Texans is probably the most productive player available, but Houston is expected to make a strong push to re-sign him. Gerald Everett (Chargers), Jonnu Smith (Falcons), Hunter Henry (Patriots), and Austin Hooper (Raiders) are terrific in-line pass catchers that can threaten defenses down the field.
Irv Smith Jr. (Bengals) and Mike Gesicki (Patriots) are superb athletes who can also line up wide or in the slot. Smith, son of former Saints TE Irv Smith, played his first two years for Kubiak and Dennison in Minnesota.
Penn State tight end Theo Johnson catches a 16-yard scoring pass against Indiana. © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
The draft is another option. Rookie tight ends don't often make an immediate impact, but we've seen that trend reverse slightly with LaPorta, Kincaid, Hockenson, and Kyle Pitts. Georgia TE Brock Bowers is a consensus top-15 pick that some analysts have going to the Saints at Number 14. While undersized, Bowers is a technically sound blocker and is a dynamic receiver.
If Bowers isn't available or the Saints address more pressing needs with their top pick, then there are a few late Day 2 or early Day 3 prospects that look like impactful players. Theo Johnson of Penn State is a terrific two-way threat. Kansas State's Ben Sinnott is a converted fullback with good athleticism. Jahiem Bell of Florida State has the receiving ability to make him a matchup problem.
These tight ends, and others, will have a chance to showcase their athleticism at this weekend's NFL Scouting Combine. Perhaps one or more will show enough to put themselves on the New Orleans radar as a new weapon for Klint Kubiak's offensive scheme.
