There are officially 87 days left until the New Orleans Saints start their 59th NFL season with a regular season game against the Arizona Cardinals. Tight end Foster Moreau wears No. 87 for the Saints and has done so since 2023. Moreau is the latest of 17 players to wear 87 in New Orleans history. A local talent and our Saints Player of the Day, here’s a closer look at Moreau’s background.

Name (age): Foster Moreau (28)

Hometown: New Orleans, La.

Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds

Drafted: Round 4, 137th overall in 2019 (Oakland Raiders)

Born and raised in New Orleans, Moreau was a football and basketball star at Jesuit High School. Louisiana State kept him close to home in nearby Baton Rouge. Moreau saw mostly special teams and short yardage blocking duties during his first two years at LSU, catching only 6 passes for 79 yards and a score. He’d see an expanded role in 2017, pulling in 24 receptions for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns. Moreau had a similar impact as a senior with 22 catches, 272 yards, and two scores.

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After impressing NFL scouts at the 2019 Senior Bowl, the Raiders selected Moreau with the 35th pick in Round 4 of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the 10th tight end chosen that year. As a rookie in 2019, Moreau earned playing time as a blocker in 13 games while making seven starts and adding 21 catches for 174 yards and 5 touchdowns, second among Oakland players.

Moreau was a steady presence in the Raiders lineup for four seasons and was one of the league’s better blockers at his position. Over those four years, he also had 91 receptions for 1,107 yards and caught 12 touchdowns. His most productive year as a receiver was 33 catches for 420 yards in 2022, then hit free agency at that year’s conclusion.New Orleans tried to bring Moreau home during the 2023 offseason. However, a routine physical revealed that he had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After going through treatment, Moreau announced that his cancer was in full remission and he’d sign a three-year contract to join New Orleans. He played in 15 games for the Saints in 2023, making 10 starts and playing 53% of the team’s offensive snaps. In those 15 outings, Moreau caught 21 passes for 193 yards and a score while showcasing his usual top-level blocking skills.

Moreau played and started all 17 games for the Saints last season, appearing in a career-high 752 offensive snaps. He had 32 receptions for 413 yards and 5 scores, matching his career-best. Unfortunately, Moreau sustained a knee injury in the season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The injury required surgery that will keep him out of minicamp practices and could keep him sidelined through training camp and into the 2025 regular season.Foster Moreau doesn’t fill up the stat sheet and, therefore, goes largely overlooked by a portion of NFL fans. However, Moreau’s ability as a blocker and underrated short-area receiving skills is a vital part of the New Orleans offensive game plans.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Foster Moreau is the Saints Player of Day 87