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Saints See Undrafted Free Agent Tight End As 'Eighth-Round Draft Pick' After Shocking Draft Slide

It continues to be a mystery why Colorado State alum Dallin Holker fell out of the 2024 NFL Draft, but the New Orleans Saints revel in the opportunity to have them on their team.

Ross Jackson | 33 Minutes Ago

As mandatory minicamps kicked off for the New Orleans Saints, several young players look to be getting greater opportunities. Especially on offense. As noted in Saints News Network's practice observations, wide receiver Mason Tipton, last year's addition running back Jordan Mims and others moved into some first-team opportunities.

While this does not necessarily mean that those players are climbing into starting roles, it does mean that the coaching staff is getting a closer look at what those players can do with starters around them. Another player that has been consistently getting those chances is Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker.

The 6-foot-3, 241-pound Holker surprisingly fell out of the draft this year. But his talents on the field look like someone that should have been selected. After practice, tight ends coach Clancy Barone took the time to speak with me and highlighted how happy the Saints were to land Holker.

"We view him as our as our eighth-round draft choice," Barone said. "And we view that highly. That a guy that probably should have been drafted by everyone's measure throughout the league, for some reason fell to us. And we're very fortunate to have him we're very excited to work with him."

Apparently the fact that the team's coaching staff includes quite a bit of Colorado State alums played a big role in his signing. The former Rams include offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, offensive line coach John Benton and senior offensive assistant Rick Dennison.

Though it would not be hard to imagine that Barone's impressive resume was a particularly impactful draw as well with several Hall of Fame tight ends under his wing throughout his career. A premier developer paired with a premier developmental prospect could be a match made in heaven.

Despite going undrafted, Holker's trajectory looks promising. The team is clearly encouraged by his progress so far and the growing expectations could lead to the young tight end having found a home immediately out of undrafted free agency.

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