The Saints may technically keep four tight ends on 53-man roster

Tommy Stevens, a quarterback from Mississippi State, could be the Saints’ fourth tight end on the 53-man roster. Yes, you read that correctly.

Many assumed after taking Dayton tight end Adam Troutman in the third round, the Saints were done drafting in the 2020 NFL Draft. After all, they didn’t have any for the last three rounds at the time.

That initial assumption would prove incorrect as they traded back in to select quarterback Tommy Stevens. Stevens would be the fourth quarterback on the roster with Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill and Drew Brees already brought on.

Stevens was a versatile, multi-dimensional threat in college at MSU. Playing at Penn State as well, Stevens showed a quickness on the ground that intrigued coaches like Sean Payton, one reason he was able to be taken despite lacking college numbers.

Now, according to the team website, Stevens is now a tight end. This isn’t a shocking move and something the team would’ve likely done with Taysom Hill had they known what his future was when they brought him on board.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound multi-positional talent, Stevens may still have aspirations as a quarterback at the sport’s highest level. Taysom Hill wants to be a full-time starter, so Stevens should still have hope for his future.

It’s interesting that they dubbed him a tight end though and not a running back or even… a quarterback.

Stevens would then join Jared Cook, Josh Hill, and Adam Troutman. He’d arguably be at the bottom as well with Hill a specialty blocker, Cook the starter, and Troutman the highly-touted rookie. However, Stevens in the role also makes sense if the team is looking to give Hill his wish.

Brees may retire soon, pushing either Winston or Hill into the limelight. If it’s Hill they put their faith in, they can replace their Swiss Army knife with Stevens, who has a similar style. For now, it seems odd, but we’ve never doubted Payton before.

And, we sure aren’t going to start now.