3 New Orleans Saints who could get bumped down depth chart

2. Adam Trautman

When the Saints decided to move on from tight ends Josh Hill and Jared Cook, Adam Trautman was supposed to be the next man up. Saints fans looked at him as a breath of fresh air after the whole Cook playoff debacle. Trautman was looked at as a young player with size, speed, and who also has good pass-catching skills but the third-round pick just could not put it together.

When Trautman was drafted in the third round out of the University of Dayton, he was considered a good pass-catching tight end with limited blocking skills. Today one could argue that Trautman as a pro is a much better blocker than he is a pass catcher.

Adam Trautman’s 2021 campaign left a lot to be desired, as he finished the season with 42 catches 434 yards, and three touchdowns. After playing in only 10 games due to an MCL injury, the jury is still out on Trautman. This could be a make-or-break year for him. He heads to Saints training camp with a lot to prove.

With a bunch of hungry guys looking to take the top spot, players like Nick Vannett and Juwan Johnson, who was switched from wide receiver to tight end last year. He showed flashes of brilliance with the few opportunities he was given in 2021.

Rookie Lucas Krull is also someone looking to give Trautman a battle. Krull went undrafted out of the University of Pittsburgh and has stood out at Saints Mini Camp, so much so that head coach Dennis Allen mentioned him in a press conference.

I’m not ready to say that Trautman is a lost cause, but having another season like 2021, he may find himself being pushed down the depth chart.