2021 NFL Draft Guide Player Profiles: Adam Trautman

Unless something happened to Jared Cook, former Dayton standout Adam Trautman wasn’t exactly staring down the barrel of a lucrative fantasy campaign as a rookie in 2020. The third round pick ended up catching 15 of his 16 targets on the year for 171 yards and one touchdown. His efficiency was excellent, catching 93.8 percent of his targets, and two-thirds of his receptions moved the chains for the New Orleans offense. With the retirement of Drew Brees, Cook jettisoned to Los Angeles to play with Justin Herbert, opening the door for Trautman to be the tight end in New Orleans, which was always valuable during the Brees era. Will it be the same with Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill? Is Trautman worth a flier? Of course!

Trautman isn’t going to push to be a top five tight end this year, but no one is really thinking that. There’s a path for targets, and his profile indicates that he can be effective with the targets he’s given. Sure, over 75 percent of his targets were behind or within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, per Pro Football Focus (PFF), but he was effective with what he was given. Again, he caught nearly 94 percent of his targets, and albeit a small sample size, he averaged 7.3 yards after catch per reception, which was third-highest amongst tight ends with at least 15 targets, per PFF.

For comparison’s sake:

Courtesy of PFF 

Trautman has the opportunity to seize a sizable red zone role, too. Emmanuel Sanders (22) and Jared Cook (21) led the team in red zone targets last year for New Orleans, and both are no longer with the team. Combine that with the fact that Michael Thomas is slated to miss some time, and Trautman could have the upper hand to become Hill’s or Winston’s go-to guy in the red zone! Back in 2019, Michael Thomas led in red zone targets, but Cook had eight red zone touchdowns and led in end zone targets, per PFF. There’s an opportunity here for Trautman, regardless of who is under center.

Jameis Winston has always liked his tight ends in the red zone, which is why Cameron Brate was always on the fantasy radar. As for Hill, he didn’t do anything to really hurt the tight end role, as tight ends had a 17 percent target share in his four starts last year, per Sharp Football Stats. The mark was at 18 percent for the entire 2021 season.

• 2021 season: TE had 18% target share
• Weeks 11-14 with Taysom Hill under center: TE had 17% target share

It’s tough for rookie tight ends to produce, but history shows that Year 2 can be a productive one, even for those that lack elite draft capital. Of tight ends drafted in the third round or later since 2010, the average stat line in year two is 32 grabs on 50 targets for 377 yards and about three touchdowns, per RotoViz. Sure, it’s not overly dominant, but we can use that as a very conservative floor for Trautman, and let’s put added emphasis on very conservative. For the record, I guarantee he bests those numbers.

Now, we can also go the other way with a veteran tight end who broke out in his second year in New Orleans. Jimmy Graham was a third round pick by the Saints and had an underwhelming rookie year. With added opportunity in year two, he shined, catching 99 balls for 1,310 yards and 11 touchdowns. Trautman won’t reach those numbers by any means, but there are some interesting parallels nonetheless.

Cook was the TE17 last year and TE7 in 2019, In 2018, with Drew Brees, Benjamin Watson was the TE21. Brees isn’t around anymore, but I’ll bet on Trautman’s efficiency on a per target basis. He very well could be the No. 2 or 3 option in the passing attack to begin the year, which will allow him to establish a rapport with his quarterback. Sean Payton should be able to get pretty creative with him, and I don’t see how he isn’t an every down player for New Orleans in 2021.

He’s athletic, has good hands and can make things happen when the ball is in his hands. Furthermore, where he lines up won’t give anything away, nor does it tip the offense’s hat by any means. He was the team’s best pass blocking tight end, and by PFF’s standards, he was the best run blocking tight end in all of football last year! Trautman can make a sizable leap this year and be one of the better inline tight ends in football.

Remember, the Saints traded up to get Trautman, he was solid at the combine and he gave some glimpses of what he can do in 2020. So, let’s check something quick.

Regular Snaps? Check

Vacated Targets? Check

Vacated Red Zone Targets? Check

Good Athlete? Check

Opportunity? Check

Draft Capital? Check

The Saints did bring in Nick Vannett, but just 76 grabs in five professional seasons and the fact that he’s played 70 percent of his career snaps in line means that Trautman will get to be the primary receiving option for the Saints this year. They can move him around to their liking, and while he proved last year to be an exceptional blocker, the less he blocks the better for fantasy purposes, because you don’t get points for pass blocking. Although, if you play in a point per block league, let me know!

I like Trautman, and think there’s a sizable role that he can carve out. He’s a great TE2 option for your fantasy team, and should see added targets while Michael Thomas is out of the lineup. Jameis Winston under center would be better for Trautman’s fantasy value, but I wouldn’t downgrade him much at all if Taysom Hill is announced as the team’s starter.

You’re better off drafting him as your TE2 with the hope he can turn into a TE1 this year, more so than drafting him as your TE1 and needing him to act as a TE1.

Statistical Credits:

profootballfocus.com
rotoviz.com
sharpfootballstats.com
nfc.shgn.com/adp/football