New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

The blocking of the New Orleans Saints’ tight ends was essential to the team’s improved run game in 2017, but the tight end group offered minimal production in the pass game.
Coby Fleener, in the second year of his lucrative deal, had just 22 catches for 295 yards in 11 games before a concussion forced him on injured reserve.
Josh Hill impressed in the two playoff games with six catches for 103 yards, but in the regular season, he had just 16 catches for 125 yards. Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui played more for their blocking than their receiving ability.
Entering this offseason, the Saints needed to add a tight end. They brought back Benjamin Watson hoping he could perform as he did with New Orleans in 2015, but the 37-year-old is on a one-year deal.
Looking to the future, there’s an opportunity for a young tight end to carve out a significant role in the offense, and the Saints might look for that player in this year’s draft.
With less than two weeks remaining before the draft, we’ll analyze the Saints’ needs at each position. The 10-part series continues with tight ends.

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Saints depth chart
Benjamin Watson
Coby Fleener
Josh Hill
Michael Hoomanawanui
Garrett Griffin
Alex Ellis

Potential Day 1 (first round) selections
Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
Mike Gesicki, Penn State

Potential Day 2 (rounds 2-3) selections
Ian Thomas, Indiana
Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
Dalton Schultz, Stanford

Potential Day 3 (rounds 4-7) selections
Jaylen Samuels, N.C. State
Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
Chris Herndon, Miami
Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
Adam Breneman, UMass
Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
Jordan Akins, Central Florida
Ryan Izzo, Florida State
Will Dissly, Washington
Jordan Thomas, Mississippi State
Nick Keizer, Grand Valley State
Andrew Vollert, Weber State
David Wells, San Diego State
Marcus Baugh, Ohio State

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Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Adam Breneman U Mass

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Ian Thomas, Indiana

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

I don’t think TE is that big of a need to warrant using our only pick in the top 90 on the position. I think we roll with Fleener, Watson and Hill this season.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

This is sorta where I feel we are also. But should we land the guy we want, Fleener is a post June 1 and we save money.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

I hope you are right. I hope we invest in the O-line instead. We are on shaky ground with Armstead and Peat broke his leg. We lost ALL of our depth this off season.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Yep. At least 6M or so.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Not that many good TE's anyway, most teams have roughly the same skill level. We have 2 that are good enough with some upside in blocking which is what sprung a lot of our ground game last year.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

I'm with you on that. However, I would like to find a way to keep Hooman around too. I'm not convinced Fleener makes the team this year, whether we pick a TE or not. He's gonna need to show up ready to work this summer.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Fleener had 5 concussions last season. It will be interesting to see (assuming he's not cut) what type of plays are designed for him.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Hopefully TE Mark Andrews, Oklahoma in the 3rd round.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

We have the picks to move up in the 3rd. :D

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

We can roll with the TE's we have. Josh hill is 27. That is about the prime age most TE's figure it out. Ertz, Kelce, these guys are older and blew up last year. They were already good but last year they stormed the NFL. No reason why Hill can't be in that mix.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

I'm not so sure. And don't get me wrong. I've been pulling for Josh Hill for a few years now - it just seems like he could be a very good TE. I am no longer convinced he will be anything more that what he is.

I could be wrong though. I'd like to be wrong about Josh. I just don't see the guy taking that next step.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

Serviceable at best. We can find cheaper for the same or better skill set.

Re: New Orleans Saints pre-draft depth chart: Tight ends
 

I think that Hill has maxed out and has hit his ceiling. He is just too stiff to suit me.....he's not a fluid athlete. Most of his catches come after a chip block when he rolls out and he doesn't seem to ever have separation in the open filed.