Saints Post-2021 NFL Draft State of the Roster: Tight Ends

The New Orleans Saints saw a lot of change at the tight end position this offseason, as Jared Cook signed with the Chargers in free agency and Josh Hill initially signed with the Lions and then later retired. This pushes Adam Trautman into the starting spot.

Here are all of the tight ends listed on the Saints’ official roster:

• Garrett Griffin
• Dylan Soehner
• Adam Trautman
• Nick Vannett
• Ethan Wolf

The Saints have five tight ends on their roster for the 2021 season.

As I mentioned above, Trautman is the No. 1 tight end for the 2021 season and there’s a lot riding on him after a lackluster rookie campaign. Trautman had just 15 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown as a rookie and the hope is that now that he’s the main option at the position, his numbers will be much better in year two.

Vannett was signed to be the backup tight end and this will be his fourth team in just two seasons, having spent time with the Seahawks, Steelers, and Broncos since 2019. Vannett had 95 yards receiving and one touchdown last year in Denver.

Griffin has been with the Saints since 2017 and always seems to stick on this roster despite not catching a pass since his rookie year in 2017. He’s mostly been a special teams guy these past few years, which also helps his case when it comes to making the roster.

That could leave Soehner and Wolf on the outside looking in. Soehner went undrafted out of Iowa State this year and had 18 receptions for 205 yards during his senior campaign with the Cyclones. Wolf also went undrafted but did so in 2018 out of Tennessee. He’s spent time with the Rams and Colts during his NFL career.

These guys have to hope to have a really good camp and/or preseason if they want to make the Saints’ roster. Griffin is the only one who could be swapped out on the roster, as Trautman and Vannett are definitely making the team.

The Saints probably should have addressed the tight end position in both the draft and free agency but not doing so shows they believe that Trautman will indeed make a big jump this year in production. Vannett provides a reliable backup option as well so the team clearly felt they were set with these two guys moving forward.

Will Trautman progress in 2021? Let’s sure hope so.