Saints Draft Outlook: Tight End
We're almost a week away from the NFL Draft, with the opening round happening next Thursday from Kansas City. The Saints will have at least one pick to make, and we'll see if they become aggressive and try to trade up any. We continue looking at each position for the black and gold, looking at potential fits in each bucket of the draft and then assessing the outlook for drafting the spot. Let's dive into the tight end group.
Current Depth Chart: Juwan Johnson, Adam Trautman, Taysom Hill, Lucas Krull, Miller Forristall
Saints Draft Outlooks: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver
Draft Prospect Outlook
- Day 1 Options: Dalton Kincaid (Utah), Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)
- Day 2 Options: Sam LaPorta (Iowa), Luke Musgrave (Oregon State), Darnell Washington (Georgia), Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State), Zack Kuntz (Old Dominion)
- Day 3 Options: Luke Schoonmaker (Michigan), Davis Allen (Clemson), Josh Whyle (Cincinatti), Payne Durham (Purdue), Kemari Averett (Bethune-Cookman)
- Priority UDFAs: Jahleel Billingsley (Texas), Trey Knox (Arkansas), Kemore Gamble (UCF), Kyle Patterson (Air Force)
THE CASE FOR DRAFTING: While re-signing Juwan Johnson on a two-year deal was a big get for the Saints offense, there's still something left to the imagination at the position. Every tight end that's come through the Saints offense post-Jimmy Graham has just not added up, although there have been some major bright spots. An offense that could get the next Travis Kelce, George Kittle, or Mark Andrews would be huge for Derek Carr and company.
Adam Trautman is in a contract year, while the nature of Taysom Hill's role in the offense is somewhat unknown. The Saints have said they have a better idea of how to utilize Hill going forward, but it remains to be seen how much he actually lines up with the tight end group in 2023.
If players like Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer fall to the Saints at 29th, then it would be very hard to pass them up. Kincaid may not, but Mayer could be a real possibility on Day 1. New Orleans could also go with Iowa's Sam LaPorta early on Day 2, someone who Bob Rose did a deep dive on the other day.
THE CASE FOR NOT DRAFTING: The main belief would be in Juwan Johnson being able to have an even better season with Derek Carr throwing to him, unlocking what Darren Waller brought for the Raiders. New tight ends coach Clancy Barone has had a very nice track history at the position, so that's also good for unlocking the potential for the group.
An outside option that could present itself would be Foster Moreau, but that would take some time. Remember that a team that signs a free agent after the draft won't count against the compensatory pick formula. Naturally, Moreau is dealing with Hodgkin's lymphoma. We reported a couple of weeks ago that Moreau completed the physical in New Orleans that he originally started. It's still a matter of when he returns to the field, not if.
“It’s at stage 2, so it’s spread from the initial location. But it appears to be a slow spread and we should be able to get rid of all of it,” Moreau told Good Morning America.
Moreau could get signed after the draft and then get placed on the non-football injury list until he's ready to come back, but that would be something for later in the season. For a strong point of reference, look at James Conner. He was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma in Dec. 2015, but did return to the field in Sep. 2016.
It may not help New Orleans out in the short-term, but if they're primed for a run later in the year or even in the playoffs, it could pay off in a huge way. If Moreau isn't a realistic option, the Saints could also look at free agency and take a flier on a veteran. Either way, expect them to at least add a couple of tight ends before they get to training camp.
