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Quarterback Tyler Shough had a magnificent season for the New Orleans Saints as a rookie. What made Shough's production more impressive was the fact that because of injuries and roster deficiencies he was mostly throwing to practice squad players and unwanted free agents signed right off the street. Two players that Shough developed an instant strong chemistry with was tight end Juwan Johnson and wide receiver Chris Olave.
Johnson had the best season of his six-year career by far. However, the Saints have lacked even adequate depth at tight end for years. This offseason, the team looks like it rectified that with a couple of surprising moves. Our training camp previews continue with a view at a position that will have a new look in 2026 for New Orleans.
Juwan Johnson was second only to Olave in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His 77 catches for 889 yards on 102 targets were among the top tight ends in the NFL. Johnson converted 41 of his receptions into first downs, scoring 3 times, as he had an impressive 75.5% catch percentage. A mismatch for defenses, Johnson is a consistent downfield threat and has an athletic advantage over most linebackers and the size edge over most defensive backs. In 2025, he also showed that he is a consistent running threat after the catch.
New Orleans surprised many when they signed Noah Fant in free agency. A 2019 first round draft pick, Fant is a more traditional in-line tight end with good blocking skills and athletic ability. He wasn't used heavily as a pass catcher in 2025 with the Bengals, but showed earlier in his career with the Broncos and Seahawks that he can be a capable receiving threat at all three levels.
If signing Fant was a surprise, then the Saints doubling down and using a third round draft pick on Oscar Delp was a shocker. At the 73rd overall selection, Delp is the highest drafted tight end by New Orleans since their 1998 selection of Cam Cleeland. Delp was under the radar as a receiver at Georgia behind Brock Bowers, but is a more than capable threat. Additionally, he is a strong blocker that that be utilized in that way or as a pass catcher from multiple spots in the offensive formation.
With Johnson, Delp, and Fant, it seems unlikely that another tight end will grab a fourth roster spot. Moliki Matavao, a 2025 seventh round choice, was a good receiver in college at UCLA and showed some blocking upside as a rookie with the Saints. Zaire Mitchell-Paden has intriguing size and abilities as a pass catcher. Treyton Welch brings value as a blocker, as would undrafted rookie Cody Hardy. The reality is that these players are likely competing for a practice squad spot or a job with another team.
Never in their franchise history have the Saints had a trio of receiving threats at tight end like they do in Johnson, Fant, and Delp. In fact, you'd have to go back a dozen years with Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson since the Saints last had two bona fide pass catchers at the position. Johnson's overall numbers might dip with more threats at the position and through the entire offense, but their presence might make him a more dangerous weapon. The challenge for coach Kellen Moore is finding different ways to use his three-headed tight end option. Certainly, this group has the potential to make the Saints a much more unpredictable and lethal offense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints training camp preview: Juwan Johnson atop overhauled tight ends
Continue reading...
Johnson had the best season of his six-year career by far. However, the Saints have lacked even adequate depth at tight end for years. This offseason, the team looks like it rectified that with a couple of surprising moves. Our training camp previews continue with a view at a position that will have a new look in 2026 for New Orleans.
- On the roster: Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Oscar Delp (rookie), Moliki Matavao, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Treyton Welch, Cody Hardy (rookie)
- Offseason losses: Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau, Jack Stoll
- Offseason additions: Fant, Delp, Hardy
Juwan Johnson was second only to Olave in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His 77 catches for 889 yards on 102 targets were among the top tight ends in the NFL. Johnson converted 41 of his receptions into first downs, scoring 3 times, as he had an impressive 75.5% catch percentage. A mismatch for defenses, Johnson is a consistent downfield threat and has an athletic advantage over most linebackers and the size edge over most defensive backs. In 2025, he also showed that he is a consistent running threat after the catch.
New Orleans surprised many when they signed Noah Fant in free agency. A 2019 first round draft pick, Fant is a more traditional in-line tight end with good blocking skills and athletic ability. He wasn't used heavily as a pass catcher in 2025 with the Bengals, but showed earlier in his career with the Broncos and Seahawks that he can be a capable receiving threat at all three levels.
If signing Fant was a surprise, then the Saints doubling down and using a third round draft pick on Oscar Delp was a shocker. At the 73rd overall selection, Delp is the highest drafted tight end by New Orleans since their 1998 selection of Cam Cleeland. Delp was under the radar as a receiver at Georgia behind Brock Bowers, but is a more than capable threat. Additionally, he is a strong blocker that that be utilized in that way or as a pass catcher from multiple spots in the offensive formation.
With Johnson, Delp, and Fant, it seems unlikely that another tight end will grab a fourth roster spot. Moliki Matavao, a 2025 seventh round choice, was a good receiver in college at UCLA and showed some blocking upside as a rookie with the Saints. Zaire Mitchell-Paden has intriguing size and abilities as a pass catcher. Treyton Welch brings value as a blocker, as would undrafted rookie Cody Hardy. The reality is that these players are likely competing for a practice squad spot or a job with another team.
Never in their franchise history have the Saints had a trio of receiving threats at tight end like they do in Johnson, Fant, and Delp. In fact, you'd have to go back a dozen years with Jimmy Graham and Ben Watson since the Saints last had two bona fide pass catchers at the position. Johnson's overall numbers might dip with more threats at the position and through the entire offense, but their presence might make him a more dangerous weapon. The challenge for coach Kellen Moore is finding different ways to use his three-headed tight end option. Certainly, this group has the potential to make the Saints a much more unpredictable and lethal offense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints training camp preview: Juwan Johnson atop overhauled tight ends
Continue reading...
