The New Orleans Saints have been popular on this Wednesday in July. The UFL held their 2024 college draft, and five Saints rookies were picked.
Saints players picked in the UFL draft:
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) July 17, 2024
- TE Dallin Holker (Birmingham/5th round)
- DL Trajan Jeffcoat (Birmingham/6th round)
- OL Sincere Haynesworth (San Antonio/7th round)
- WR Mason Tipton (Memphis/10th round)
- S Isaiah Stalbird (Michigan/10th round)
We've selected WR Mason Tipton with our tenth pick of the 2024 UFL College Draft #BOATS pic.twitter.com/OzwPruIg0l
— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) July 17, 2024
Tipton joins Saints rookie tight end Dallin Holker as the offensive players drafted from their organization during the selection process. Holker seems like a much more likely option to make the Saints 2024 roster.
The opportunity would allow him to put his skills on full display, rather than sitting on the practice squad, at best, in New Orleans.
The Saints have a plethora of veterans as depth for wide receiver talent. On their current depth chart, you could argue that Tipton is the caboose of the group. Not to mention, New Orleans currently only has nine receivers on their roster.
They carried twelve on the roster through camp last year, so they may add one or two more before the preseason begins. That would only make it harder on Tipton for this season.
Slot target on the next level with rare testing speed but an unpolished skill set as a route-runner. Tipton is tight-hipped and struggles to elude press. His routes are raw but could improve quickly with NFL coaching. His ball skills shine, with an ability to track, create space and lay out for difficult catches. Tipton showed blazing speed at his pro day, but it’s hard to find that same caliber of speed on tape. The ball skills and speed will get him a look, and making a practice squad would be a good first step for him as a developmental project. -- Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
For clarity, the UFL season runs in the NFL offseason (the 2024 season was March-June). This won't affect camp at all for any of these players even if they do ultimately end up in the UFL.
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) July 17, 2024
Regardless, it will be a tough, uphill climb for Tipton to obtain any sort of notable role for the Saints this year. Instead, he may want to go test his luck in the newly-formed league. It would be immensely difficult for him to play for both teams.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!