PFF ranks top 32 Tight Ends for next season

The New Orleans Saints are faced with a few question marks heading into next season. Who will be the starter at quarterback? Who will be the number 2 receiver? Who will start at corner alongside Marshon Lattimore? One such question will not be the starter at tight end. With the release of enigmatic Jared Cook and the steady Josh Hill, Adam Trautman will be the number guy at tight end. While we saw him in limited action last season, the future looks bright for the “Big Fish”.

Just how bright remains to be seen. Trautman was only targeted 18 times last season, though he caught 15 of those passes for 175 yards and a touchdown. His most impressive skills came in blocking as he posted an impressive 87.1 run blocking grade by Pro Football Focus. That same site recently released their top tight end rankings for next season and Trautman came in at 30 out of 32.

Looking at it initially, you might think the ranking conveys how little people view Trautman. I would counter the fact that a 3rd string tight end last season who saw limited playing time would be able to be on the radar enough to crack this list shows the upside people see in him. Ben Linsey has this to say about Trautman in his article.

Trautman will definitely see his production in snaps, targets, and receptions increase tremendously as he settles into his new starter role. Andrew Bell here with CSC recently wrote an awesome piece on just how his role will evolve in the upcoming season. As the Saints transition to a new Day 1 starter at quarterback for the first time in 15 years, Trautman may become instrumental in the success of the offense next season. The Big Fish is ready to swim in the big pond.

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