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Adam Trautman 2021 Player Outlook: Touchdown Upside at Cheap Cost
3 years agoThe Saints' second-year tight end Adam Trautman did not contribute much in 2020. He caught 15 of his 16 targets for 171 yards and one touchdown as a rookie. But, Jared Cook is gone and Trautman sits atop the depth chart. Trautman provides a big target, listed at 6'5 and 255 pounds, and can run for a man that size. He is dealing with a leg injury, but avoided anything serious. However, him being used as a blocking tight end in the preseason was not what we want to see. It lowers his floor and adds some risk, but if you are drafting him it is as a TE2 with some TD upside. The Saints need someone to step up for them in the red zone and given his size, Trautman is a prime candidate. Last season, Cook led the Saints with nine end zone targets. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Sanders was second on the team with six. Both are gone in 2021. His chances of leading the Saints there only gets larger with Michael Thomas expected to miss the start of the season. A high touchdown rate is enough to prop him up into TE1 territory - just ask 2020 Robert Tonyan. But Trautman is also dangerous with the ball in his hands after the catch and has drawn comparisons to Dallas Goedert. He is a TE2 with breakout upside that you can get in the later rounds of drafts.
