Saints Continue Looking at Tight End Upgrade By Extending Rookie Camp Try-Out to Wake Forest TE Cam Serigne
In case you missed it while you were asleep: last night it was revealed that the New Orleans Saints are continuing to look at ways to upgrade their tight end position, by extending a rookie camp try-out next month to undrafted Wake Forest tight end Cam Serigne.
Serigne (pronounced SAIR-in-yay) was named 1st Team All-ACC and was a "go-to target" for the Demon Deacons last season.
After snatching a career-high eight touchdown receptions as a senior, the 6-3, 240-pounder was considered one of this year's biggest "sleeper" prospects and was projected to quickly become a favorite of whichever NFL quarterback gets the pleasure of adding him to his huddle in 2018.
Apparently, that could be Saints QB and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
Photo courtesy of USA TODAY Sports
A 5th-year / redshirt senior, Serigne played an important starting role for four years and shattered Wake Forest’s record books.
He broke the school record for tight end receptions and touchdowns after just his first two seasons at the school. In his entire career at Wake Forest, Serigne hauled in 174 receptions for 2,075 yards and 21 TD's.
Saints fans won't be able to ignore the obvious Jimmy Graham comparisons for Serigne, who like Graham is considered a top-notch receiver but not all that effective as an in-line blocker either in the running game or in pass protection.
But a more accurate comparison would be to former Saints tight end Billy Miller, who played for the Saints from 2006 to 2008 when Saints head coach Sean Payton first took over the team over a decade ago.
Miller had 45 receptions for 579 yards in his last season for the Saints, but before the 2009 season started blew out his Achilles tendon in an exhibition game against the Miami Dolphins, ending his football playing career. The Saints won the Super Bowl the following February.
With regard to Serigne, Sporting News NFL Draft analyst Eric Galko says that the former Wake Forest star shows a good feel for space and how to get open. He's a smooth, agile player who can weave in and out of zone coverages, as well as make some acrobatic catches in traffic.
Galko does caution however that Serigne isn't an overly physical player, but he is an athlete with an aggressive mindset. Additionally, he also notes that Serigne is not a hulking blocker, but he can quickly get to his mark, and he has the tenacity to get after defenders.
The announcement of the invitation to Serigne comes on the heels of this past weekend's UDFA signing of former Western Kentucky University tight end Deon Yelder, who we just covered yesterday in an article that you can read by clicking HERE, in case you missed it.
Now with the added invite to Serigne, the Saints will have not one but TWO very underrated young tight ends competing for a roster spot, and their simultaneous presence together should give the Saints coaching staff a good opportunity to assess or gauge each player's respective individual talents, and see if either one can provide the "spark" that's needed from the position in their passing game.
