Tag: Dallin Holker

Saints rookie Dallin Holker looking like an early UDFA steal

Saints rookie Dallin Holker is already looking like an early UDFA steal out of Colorado State. So why wasn’t he drafted?

It’s early, but it’s safe to say former Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker passes the eye test. The New Orleans Saints acted quickly to sign him as a rookie free agent after he wasn’t picked in the 2024 draft. And when you first pull up Holker’s highlight reel, the first thing that comes to mind is a question: Why wasn’t he drafted? His story helps explain why NFL teams were cool on him.

Holker was a quiet part of BYU’s offense to start his college career, having missed the 2019 and 2020 seasons to serve his two-year religious mission inn Chile. After returning to find a bit part waiting for him  at BYU, he transferred to Colorado State in 2023. And then he broke out with career-highs in catches (64), yards (767), and touchdown receptions (6).

And there’s your problem — or at least what NFL scouting departments saw as problems. Holker turned 24 in April and only put up notable receiving totals in one season at the college level. There’s a perception that he’s already plateaued as an athlete. There isn’t much growth potential in an older prospect with below-average size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) and speed (4.78 time in the 40 yard dash). He also doesn’t offer much as a blocker and lined up tight to the formation on about 26% of his snaps.

But, hey: if other teams are turned off by those negatives, then the Saints could benefit by focusing on the positives. What he lacks at top speed Holker makes up for in a shorter space (his 6.83 time in the three-cone drill and 4.21 mark in the short shuttle are proof of great agility). He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands, having averaged 5.9 yards after the catch per reception while forcing 15 missed tackles last season. For context, Alvin Kamara led the Saints with 6.6 YAC/R and 13 missed tackles forced last year.

Watch him work and you’ll see Holker fighting hard on 50/50 balls (he literally won 10 of 20 contested catches last year) and showing great vision in the open field to put defenders in bad pursuit angles. He shows off focus on difficult, off-target passes and some slick footwork to separate from opponents in coverage. If he can do for the Saints what Jimmy Graham did last year as the third tight end, he’ll look like a good pickup. Maybe there’s even more here than meets the eye.

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Broncos host CSU TE Dallin Holker on pre-draft visit

The Broncos brought in CSU tight end Dallin Holker for a pre-draft visit. He’s projected to be a late-round pick.

The Denver Broncos hosted Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker on a pre-draft visit earlier this month, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Holker (6-3, 241 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds and a 10-yard split in 1.66 seconds at the NFL combine. He started his college career at BYU in 2018, hauling in 19 receptions for 235 yards and one touchdown as a freshman.

Holker then went on a Mormon missionary trip from 2019-2020. He returned to the football team in 2021 and totaled 14 receptions for 200 yards and one score. After being limited to three games in 2022, Holker transferred to Colorado State ahead of the 2023 season.

Holker had a breakout season last fall, totaling 64 receptions for 767 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Those numbers were better than his three-year totals in 28 games at BYU (42/521/3).

The 24-year-old tight end is now projected to be a fifth– or sixth-round pick in the NFL draft. The Broncos hold five picks in that part of the draft.

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit from April 25-27. We are tracking all of Denver’s pre-draft prospect visits on Broncos Wire.

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Bengals reportedly interested in Colorado State TE Dallin Holker

A name to keep an eye on for the Bengals in the draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals still seem to have their eyes set on taking a tight end at some point in the 2024 NFL draft.

Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the team has interest in Colorado State tight end Dallin Holker, who is projected to go somewhere in the third through fifth rounds.

Holker spent his senior season at Colorado State, catching 64 passes for 767 yards and six touchdowns, a massive improvement in his pass-catching from his first three seasons at BYU, where he totaled 42 catches for 521 yards and three touchdowns in those three years.

Conway reported that Bengals tight ends coach James Casey attended the team’s pro day on March 18.

The Bengals haven’t drafted a tight end since they took Drew Sample in the second round of the 2019 draft, but they have met with or shown interest in many of them this offseason including Georgia’s Brock Bowers, Iowa’s Erick All and Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders.

All of this interest comes after they signed both Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson in free agency. With three tight ends on the roster now, the Bengals have made it so it won’t be necessary to take one in the draft, but if any of them are the best player available at the Bengals pick, they likely would still take another.

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Vikings 2024 7 round mock draft 7.0: Drafting to bolster the offense

What if the Minnesota Vikings used the NFL Draft to bolster the offense? Tyler Forness explores that exact, yet unlikely, strategy

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.

Each week throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, I will be doing different seven-round mock drafts for the Vikings as a way to explore different scenarios. You never know who might fall to you and how that could cause a ripple effect and being ready for those situations is paramount come draft weekend.

In the second rendition of our seven-round mock draft series, what could a draft look like that has the Vikings focusing solely on the offensive side of the ball after using free agency to fix the defense?

Mock Draft 1.0
Mock Draft 2.0
Mock Draft 3.0
Mock Draft 4.0
Mock Draft 5.0
Mock Draft 6.0

2024 NFL Draft Tight End top 5 rankings 1.0

2024 NFL Draft Tight End top 5 rankings 1.0 from Draft Wire’s Natalie Miller

The tight end position has seed renewed importance in the last few seasons with the likes of Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta leading the way. This could mean a higher draft position for future tight ends in the upcoming classes.

This years group of tight ends has a few stars and hidden gems littered throughout the draft. Let’s take a look at the top five players of that group before we get to pre-draft process.

Offensive standouts for Chargers from East-West Shrine Bowl: Day 3

Here’s who stood out on the offensive side of the ball on the third day.

The East-West Shrine Bowl continued Monday in Frisco, TX with the third practice session leading up to Thursday’s game.

Here are five players who made a positive impression on the assorted scouts and media, including six Chargers personnel staffers, in attendance.

Vikings 2024 7 round mock draft 1.0: What if they can’t say no to a WR?

What would the Minnesota Vikings do if Malik Nabers was available at 11th overall? The first of many 2024 NFL mock drafts explores that idea

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.

Each week throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, I will be doing different seven round mock drafts for the Vikings as a way to explore different scenarios. You never know who might fall to you and how that could cause a ripple effect and being ready for those situations is paramount come draft weekend.

In the first rendition, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers somehow falls to 11th overall and that could change the way the Vikings address their roster and draft picks.