The New Orleans Saints are getting a front-row seat at one of the more intriguing pre-draft showcases of the offseason: the East-West Shrine Bowl. And they’re not just watching from the stands - they’re getting their hands dirty on the field.
Former Saints tight end Josh Hill, now a member of the team’s pro scouting department, will be serving as the West team’s tight ends coach during the event. That gives New Orleans a unique edge in evaluating some of the late-round tight end talent in this year’s draft class - a position the team is expected to address.
Hill is no stranger to what it takes to carve out a career at the position. Over his eight seasons in New Orleans, he was a dependable option in the passing game and a trusted blocker, finishing with over 1,000 career receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in the regular season, plus another score in the playoffs. Now, he’ll be working directly with a group of tight end prospects, getting a feel not just for their game tape, but their work ethic, football IQ, and coachability - all things that can get lost in the shuffle during the traditional pre-draft process.
Among the group Hill will be coaching, there’s one name that jumps off the page: Jaren Kanak. He’s not your typical tight end prospect.
Kanak spent the majority of his college career at linebacker before flipping to tight end in 2025 - and the transition was surprisingly smooth. In 13 games, he hauled in 44 passes for 533 yards, showing off the kind of athleticism and physicality you’d expect from someone with a defensive background.
That production puts him near the top of this group in terms of raw numbers, and his versatility could be a real asset for teams looking for matchup problems in the middle of the field.
Then there’s Seydou Traore, who’s had a longer, more traditional path to the position. Over five seasons, he steadily built up his résumé, with his best year coming in 2022 when he posted 50 catches for 655 yards and four touchdowns. Traore has the kind of frame and hands that could translate well to the next level, especially in a developmental role.
Rounding out the group are Riley Nowakowski and Bauer Sharp, both of whom are flying a bit under the radar in the draft community but have a chance to make an impression in front of NFL coaches and scouts. According to the Mock Draft Database, Nowakowski is currently ranked 256th, Sharp at 293rd, Traore at 297th, and Kanak at 361st - so we’re talking about players who are likely late-round picks or priority undrafted free agents. But as we’ve seen time and again, the Shrine Bowl has a way of uncovering hidden gems.
For the Saints, this is about more than just adding bodies to the roster. With a young quarterback in Tyler Shough looking to establish himself, the team is in the market for reliable, versatile weapons who can contribute across the depth chart. Tight end is a position where depth can make a real difference - especially when you're looking to support a developing passer.
So while most of the attention during draft season goes to the top-tier prospects, don’t sleep on what Josh Hill and the Saints might uncover in this group. With his experience in the league and now a front-line view of how these players operate up close, Hill could help New Orleans find a valuable contributor - maybe even someone who follows in his own footsteps.