Saints training camp uncovers diamond in the rough for Derek Carr's offense

The New Orleans Saints appear to have a breakout undrafted free agent on their hands at training camp.

Dallin Holker, undrafted out of Colorado State, is already getting first-team reps with Derek Carr’s offense at practice and is passing the eye test.

In fact, it’s not easy to just handwave Holker’s ascent as a happy accident while Juwan Johnson misses time recovering from offseason surgery.

“He’s got football awareness and football intelligence,” head coach Dennis Allen said, according to according to Luke Johnson of NOLA.com. “That allows him to find soft spots in zones and things of that nature. He’s really good when the picture changes. For a young guy, to be advanced in that way from a football intelligence standpoint, is pretty impressive.”

That’s not just standard coachspeak, either—it helps explain why the rise is so shocking for a rookie who, at first glance, doesn’t look like a typical NFL tight end receiving threat at just 6’3” and 241 pounds.

Over the weekend, Holker caught a touchdown from Carr in seven-on-seven work and has continually shown that knack for finding gaps in coverage and then flashing reliable hands.

The Saints still have big plans for Taysom Hill in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s system, as well as other tight ends on the roster such as Foster Moreau. Holker will still need to prove he can be a reliable run-blocker, too.

But the fact the conversation has shifted from even making the final 53-man roster to Holker getting first-team reps is a good sign for the rookie, to say the least.