Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update: Adam Trautman, TE NO

The NFL Draft is behind us, rookie drafts are taking place, and as dynasty owners, we are looking ahead to the upcoming season. In the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Update series, we break down all the incoming fantasy-relevant rookies, looking at their profile and where they fit.

Name: Adam Trautman

Position: Tight end

Pro Team: New Orleans Saints

College Team: Dayton Flyers

Draft Status: Round three, 105th overall

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

COMBINE REVIEW

• Height: 6’5’’
• Weight: 255 pounds
• Arms: 32 5/8”
• Hands: 9 1/2”
• 40-yard dash: 4.80 seconds (unofficial)
• Bench press: 18 reps
• Vertical jump: 34.5”
• Broad jump: 114”
• Three-cone: 6.78s
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.27s

STRENGTHS

• Prototypical big frame coveted at the position
• Dominated his competition in college
• Fantastic red zone target who converts
• High points the ball, winning with his size
• Can make the tough catch
• Hands catcher who snatches the ball away from his body
• Uses size and body position to beat coverage
• Fought for tough catches in tight coverage

WEAKNESSES

• The competition – FCS school
• No evidence of blocking ability
• Strength and arm length below average – knocks blocking potential
• Average speed, even at his size
• Route tree looks limited
• Overwhelmed competition that couldn’t match up

OPPORTUNITIES

Adam Trautman played quarterback for his hometown school in Elk Rapids, Michigan, where he also played basketball. His time there did not convert into any recruitment interest from major programs, and he landed at Dayton where he changed positions to tight end for the Flyers.

He was strong out of the gate for a converted quarterback, with 24 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns. His production increased every year thereafter for Dayton, culminating in a 70-catch, 916-yard senior season with 14 touchdowns. He won the conference Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019.

Statistics from cbssports.com.

Trautman’s production cannot be denied. Almost 2,300 yards and 31 touchdowns? Sign me up. This is massive production, but you must keep in mind that Trautman outclassed his competition in the FCS, and improved every year. But just like teams play the schedule they are given, Trautman played the competition he was given.

The situation in New Orleans isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty darn good. Trautman will have to get by two veteran tight ends in Jared Cook and Josh Hill. Hill isn’t much of a climb (see what I did there!) but Jared Cook had a strong season for the Saints in 2019 and should have a good grip on the starting role. Cook is 33 years old now, however, and not signed long-term, so the opportunity for Trautman is there if he can make the transition to the NFL.

THREATS

And that’s a big if. It’s difficult to know whether the game of a dominant player from the FCS or other smaller schools can make the leap. It’s one thing to beat players who are smaller, weaker and slower than you, but Trautman will find the NFL competition completely different. He has that great size and great agility, and there is a chance he could be the next Jimmy Graham in the Big Easy.

There is also a question at quarterback. Drew Brees seems to be a question mark on an annual basis now. How many years does he have left? There are signs that his skills are deteriorating, even if he does stick around. By the time Trautman can win the starting job, he may be looking at a completely different, non-All-Pro signal-caller.

There is also no evidence Trautman could be an every-down tight end anytime soon. I couldn’t find a good example of his blocking ability, as film on the small school players is more limited. His strength and arm length both are dings on any blocking ability, so he may just be a wide receiver in a big body. Those players can succeed, but it’s not a sure thing at all – especially given how he will have to learn to perform against NFL talent.

SHORT-TERM EXPECTATIONS

Jared Cook will stand in the way of Trautman for the short-term, at least during the 2020 season, assuming there is one. Cook has a voidable year on his contract in 2021, so if the Saints like where the TE room is headed with Trautman, he could get his real shot next season.

Still, the rest of the tight end roster in New Orleans is nothing to write home about. If Trautman can make the transition and make hay in practice, he could see a fair amount of snaps in two tight end sets. He could conceivably claim the number two spot on the depth chart this year.

LONG-TERM EXPECTATIONS

There are a lot of ifs here, but Trautman has TE1 traits, and could potentially blossom into a franchise-type player at the position. He has great size and fantastic agility, the ability to make tough catches and high point the ball, and he sets up residence in the red zone. These are all fantastic indicators.

But can he do it against the safeties, corners and linebackers he will see in the NFL? That is the question. He’s never faced the kind of competition he will at this level, and it will be a trial by fire. He could come out as a massive producer or a massive dud.

NFL PLAYER COMPARISON

I’m going to make this comparison mostly to temper expectations. There’s another fairly recent player who had prototypical size and dominated his competition at a lower level program – Adam Shaheen. Remember that if you’re thinking of going all-in on Trautman. We’ve seen this story before, and the tight ends we target don’t always pan out.

PROJECTED ROOKIE DRAFT RANGE

DLF’s Rookie ADP has Trautman around the 36th rookie off the board and the second tight end after Cole Kmet. Like Kmet, you should be able to get him in the late third or early fourth, but I suspect some folks will fall in love with his traits and jump a little earlier. If you want to ensure you get him, you may have to reach a little.

I feel like tight end is a position that has a White Whale every few years, and dynasty owners go all Captain Ahab on him trying to ensure they secure him for their teams. That White Whale is usually due to physical traits and the landing spot, and I think that’s what we have in Trautman. I already have him on more than one roster, but I would hesitate to pay too much. If it’s the Shaheen Show all over again, you could regret it.