Just 85 days are between now and the 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. It’ll be the 59th NFL season for New Orleans, but their first under new head coach Kellen Moore. Second-year tight end Dallin Holker is currently wearing number 85 for New Orleans. Our Saints Player of the Day, we have a closer look at Holker’s background and career.

Name (age): Dallin Holker (25)

Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 241 pounds

College: Colorado State Rams

Relative Athletic Score: 6.07

Drafted: Undrafted, 2024 (Saints)

2025 salary cap hit: $963,333

Upon graduating from Lehi High School in Utah, Holker committed to Brigham Young University. He’d have 19 receptions for 235 yards as a freshman in 2018, but then missed the next two years while on a Mormon mission requirement. Holker returned to BYU in 2021 and caught 14 passes for 200 yards, then announced his intention to transfer from the Cougars early in 2022. He’d land with Colorado State in 2023, where he’d have a career-high 64 receptions for 767 yards and 6 touchdowns. In the process, Holker earned 1st Team All-Mountain West and 2nd Team All-American accolades.

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Selected in Round 5 of the UFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, Holker was not chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’d be signed by the New Orleans Saints. Holker had 3 catches for 24 yards during preseason action but showed enough in practice to make the regular season active roster. He’d appear in 12 games for the Saints during the regular season, but only played a total of 104 snaps with 73 of those on the offensive side. Holker caught 2 of his 4 targets as a receiver for 21 yards and one first down.

An athletic pass catcher, Holker could face a stiff battle to make the roster for a second straight year. He’ll need to fend off challenges from Moliki Matavao, Jack Stoll, Michael Jacobson, and Treyton Welch to win a job behind Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau. Holker’s athleticism may be the key. If he can translate that into becoming a mismatch for opposing defenses as a receiver, then he could be an underrated weapon for the New Orleans attack.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Dallin Holker is the Saints Player of Day 85