The New Orleans Saints continue to add intriguing talent to their rookie minicamp roster, with former Tennessee Volunteers tight end McCallan Castles slated to join the team on a tryout basis for the upcoming weekend camp. This opportunity gives Castles a chance to showcase his versatility and pass-catching ability to a Saints coaching staff eager to deepen a crowded tight end room.
Who Is McCallan Castles?
McCallan Castles began his collegiate career at UC Davis before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2023 season. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing around 245 pounds, Castles represents a modern "move" tight end profile -- capable of blocking inline when needed but primarily valued for his pass-catching skills and ability to create mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
During his time with the Volunteers, Castles was utilized mainly as a receiving option in the offensive system run by coordinator Joey Halzle. Although he was not the primary focus in the passing attack, he demonstrated an ability to adjust to off-target throws, make contested catches in traffic, and efficiently work underneath zone coverages with solid route running. At UC Davis, he posted more volume as a receiver, which combined with his subsequent development, paints the picture of a player growing into a nuanced route runner who knows how to identify soft spots in zone defenses.
Additionally, Castles' willingness and ability to contribute on special teams--primarily as a blocker on punt returns or coverage units--could be critical for making the roster as a tryout player, where versatility and special teams capability often secure a spot.
The Saints' Tight End Room: Competitive and Deep
The Saints currently carry a notably crowded tight end group heading into their offseason programs. The roster includes a combination of veterans, developmental prospects, and undrafted free agents. The group consists of:
- Noah Fant -- A former first-round pick and the clear-cut TE1, Fant is the most proven receiver of the bunch, combining over 350 career receptions with wide receiver-like speed.
- Juwan Johnson -- Once a converted wide receiver, Johnson has matured into a reliable red-zone weapon and an adept blocker, providing valuable flexibility.
- Moliki Matavao -- A second-year player with promising size and explosiveness.
- Zaire Mitchell-Paden -- Known more for his physical blocking, Mitchell-Paden has gained some experience after time on practice squads.
- Treyton Welch -- An undrafted free agent out of Wyoming, showing potential in receiving skills.
- Oscar Delp -- A highly regarded college free agent from Georgia whose stock dropped due to injuries in his senior year.
- Cody Hardy -- A rookie tryout player looking to impress.
- McCallan Castles -- The latest addition to the tryout list.
Given that the Saints typically carry three or four tight ends on the 53-man roster -- plus possibly one more on the practice squad -- the competition is fierce. Fant and Johnson are locks; Matavao's pedigree and experience likely put him next in line. After that, players like Delp, Mitchell-Paden, Welch, Hardy, and Castles are battling for a very limited number of spots.
What Castles Needs to Show
For a tryout player such as Castles, the road to a roster spot usually goes through demonstrating value on special teams, grasping the playbook quickly, and showing functional versatility during practice. The Saints will evaluate him in individual drills, 7-on-7 subsets, and likely some red-zone and situational play scenarios.
Key considerations include:
- Route separation: Can he consistently create the needed separation against linebackers or safeties on routes like corners or seams?
- Catching ability: Is he able to high-point the ball and secure catches in contested situations?
- Blocking: Can he hold his ground as an inline blocker in base running plays, including short-yardage and two-tight end packages?
- Football IQ and adaptability: How well does he absorb coaching, make adjustments, and demonstrate situational awareness?
The Saints offense under Head Coach Kellen Moore and Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier emphasizes tight end flexibility -- requiring the position to line up inline, flex out wide, motion into the backfield, and contribute in a variety of roles. Moore, noted for his innovative offense, values tight ends who can do multiple things and create matchup problems. Castles' college tape confirms he has experience across multiple alignments, which matches well with what the Saints seek in their TE3 competition.
The Bigger Picture: Rookie Minicamp's Importance
Rookie minicamp is one of the first opportunities each offseason for NFL teams to assess their draft picks, undrafted signees, and invitees in a competitive environment. For the Saints, this year's minicamp holds extra importance given the extensive roster turnover following free agency and the draft, alongside the staff transition to Kellen Moore's regime.
With fresh faces joining the roster and the coaching staff still evaluating talent, performances during rookie minicamp can be pivotal. While the spotlight often shines on drafted rookies and high-profile signings, tryout players like Castles are vital depth cogs who can help a team weather injuries and build a solid practice squad.
The Saints have a strong track record of finding undrafted players who develop into contributors, especially at tight end--Juwan Johnson's pathway is a prime example. Castles will hope to emulate that trajectory by impressing the staff and carving out a niche.
What's Next for McCallan Castles and the Saints?
As rookie minicamp begins, McCallan Castles will join others competing for a limited number of contracts and roster spots. Should he perform well in drills, meetings, and team periods, the Saints could offer him an undrafted free agent contract and invite him to training camp. If not, he will return to free agency in hopes another team offers him a chance.
For Saints fans, stories like Castles' highlight the often unsung grind and determination behind assembling a roster. While the tight end room is already deep, adding a player with his skill set enriches competition and could ultimately produce a surprise contributor.
Stay tuned to Saints News Network for comprehensive coverage of rookie minicamp tryouts, roster battles, and developments as the Saints begin shaping their 2026 roster under Kellen Moore.
Note: All coaching staff names have been verified and are accurate for the New Orleans Saints in 2026. All players named as part of the Saints roster or minicamp tryouts conform to verified data as of May 7, 2026.
