Saints Training Camp Preview: Tight End

The Saints tight end room can prove to be one of their biggest payoffs in 2023, and the group is fairly under the radar right now.

It's training camp week for the Saints. New Orleans will have their veterans report to Metairie on Tuesday, as practice gets underway on Wednesday and we get to spend the next several weeks learning more about Dennis Allen's team. We've been previewing all of the position groups for the black and gold ahead of camp starting, and we shift our attention to the tight end room.

SAINTS TRAINING CAMP OUTLOOKS: Defensive End | Running Back | Safety | Cornerback | Linebacker

Saints Training Camp Outlook: Tight End

Nov 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Juwan Johnson (83) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Depth Chart: Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau, Taysom Hill, Lucas Krull, Jesse James, Miller Forristall (PUP), Jimmy Graham (added 7/25)

This is a very underrated and overlooked group approaching training camp, so much so that Juwan Johnson didn't even find himself among the Top 32 tight ends in their fantasy rankings. The team traded away Adam Trautman during the draft to the Broncos, but made a nice splash in free agency by landing hometown native Foster Moreau.

Veteran Jesse James was a late add to the team in minicamp, but has familiarity with new tight ends coach Clancy Barone that could make things interesting. As for Miller Forristall, he was one of the players the team added on a reserve/future contract, but has yet to see the field outside of being an observer. He's one of the few players that will start on the PUP list. 

Derek Carr's impact on the offense could help make this group shine a great deal, but to what heights is anyone's guess. Here's a few of the storylines and things to watch for out of the group over the next several weeks. 

Juwan Johnson Encore

Johnson had a fairly strong season, finishing tied for 15th in the NFL with 7 touchdowns to go along with a career-high 42 catches for 508 yards. Rather than hit free agency or get tagged under a restricted tender, Johnson was rewarded with a two-year contract that carries a maximum value of $14.5 million. Johnson comes into training camp already having developed some early chemistry with Derek Carr.

The sky is the limit on what Johnson can do in the Saints offense, but we fully expect him to be a favored target of Carr in 2023. As I pointed out in my fantasy football preview, he's a major sleeper and can have solid production with Darren Waller breakout potential.

Oct 16, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) is announced to the fans before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Hill's Impact on the Offense

Taysom Hill's versatility is something other teams don't have the luxury of. Hill is simply an offensive weapon that New Orleans can utilize in a variety of situations, but he can also do more when it comes to special teams. As special teams coach Darren Rizzi appropriately nicknamed him last year 'Bugs Bunny' for his do-it-all ability. 

The Saints have said more than a few times that they have a better understanding of how best to utilize Hill going forward, and we're eagerly awaiting to see how. Hill joked with us at the end of minicamp that he shows up every day and not know what position group he'll be in, but he will absolutely be a part of the tight end room and be someone the Saints can use to their advantage in short-yardage and red zone situations.

Can Krull Conquer?

One of the unknowns is how Lucas Krull fits in for his second year. He was one that didn't get to showcase a ton of his work with veterans ahead of him, but ended up landing on the practice squad and getting a regular season appearance late in the year against the Bucs. It's really a tough call with Krull right now when assembling the final 53-man roster. He's one that could benefit a lot from how Taysom Hill's usage plays out in training camp.

Moreau Primed

Foster Moreau had one of the best turnarounds and stories of the offseason, overcoming his battle of Hodgkin's Lymphoma to where it's now in remission. Several teams were interested in acquiring the free agent even with all of the things going on personally, but he ultimately picked the Saints and reunited with his quarterback in Las Vegas. 

There's a certain energy he's sure to have being able to play in front of the home crowd as a Jesuit High School product and LSU Tiger. In the past two seasons, he's averaged just shy of 50 catches. He should be a considerable upgrade over what New Orleans has had in the past from a support role at the very least.

What's in the Tank for JG?

If you were to tell anyone that Jimmy Graham, who didn't play football in 2022, would reunite with the Saints on a one-year deal, then you would have been laughed out of whatever setting you were in. However, New Orleans did add him to the tight end room to make them even more interesting. We're not quite sure what Graham has to offer, but in his prime, he was a killer target in the red zone. This is a fascinating development that we'll be very interested in seeing how it plays out.