Today marks 82 days between now and the 2025 NFL regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. The Saints kick off their year at home against the Arizona Cardinals. They're intent is on improving on their 5-12 record from a year ago under first-year coach Kellen Moore.
Wearing number 82 for the Saints this year is tight end Treyton Welch. He is entering his second year with the team after spending all of 2024 on the practice squad. The little-known Welch faces an intense battle to make the team at a crowded position of competitors behind starters Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau.
If he makes the active roster, Welch would be the first to wear 82 in a regular season contest for the Saints since 2022. Here's a look at all who wore that jersey for New Orleans.
Saints History of 82
New Orleans Saints defensive end Bob Pollard (82) with a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: saintshalloffame.com
New Orleans Saints defensive end Bob Pollard (82) with a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams. Credit: saintshalloffame.com
• Johnny Brewer, LB (1968-70)
• Bob Pollard, DE (1971-77)
• Ike Harris, WR (1978-81)
• John Tice, TE (1983-92)
• Ken O'Neal, TE (1987)
• Darren Gottschalk, TE (1987)
• Irv Smith, TE (1993-97)
• Quadry Ismail, WR (1998)
• Eddie Kennison, WR (1999)
• Andrew Glover, TE (2000)
• Boo Williams, TE (2001-04)
• Nate Lawrie, TE (2006)
• Eric Johnson, TE (2007)
• Ben Watson, TE (2013-15, 2018)
• Coby Fleener, TE (2016-17)
• Adam Trautman, TE (2020-22)
• Treyton Welch, TE (2024-present)
Oct 13, 1985; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints tight end John Tice (82) in action against the Los Angeles Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 1985; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints tight end John Tice (82) in action against the Los Angeles Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-Imagn Images
Brewer was the first to put on 82 for the Saints, doing so in the team's second season. He'd play the last three years in New Orleans out of his 10-year career.
Bob Pollard was selected in the 11th round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Saints out of Weber State. He'd go on to be one of the most disruptive defenders in the early history of the Saints. In seven years with New Orleans, Pollard wrecked opposing offensive lines and would record 37 (unofficial) sacks. Pollard was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1995.
Ike Harris was the first offensive player to suit up in 82 for the Saints. Harris played four years with New Orleans, catching 104 passes for 1,710 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns. He was second on the team in receiving yardage in 1978 and 1980, combining for 1,282 yards in those two campaigns.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Bob Pollard (82) makes a tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Credit: neworleanssaints.com
New Orleans Saints defensive end Bob Pollard (82) makes a tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Credit: neworleanssaints.com
John Tice arrived to the Saints as a third round choice in the 1983 NFL Draft. He'd be with the Saints for all of his 10 NFL seasons. He was a devastating blocker over that span, but also contributed 158 receptions for 1,603 yards and 15 touchdowns. With his 10 years and 157 games, Tice is the longest-tenured Saint to wear number 82.
Irv Smith was selected in Round 1 of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Saints out of Notre Dame. With the 20th overall choice, Smith was the highest drafted tight end selected that year. He'd go on to play five of his seven NFL seasons with New Orleans.
Smith brought a solid combination of blocking and receiving skills to the Saints. In his five years with the team he had 134 receptions for 1,300 yards and 9 touchdowns. Tice and Smith were two of 12 tight ends in the total of 17 players to wear 82 in New Orleans.
New Orleans Saints tight end Irv Smith (82) catches a pass against the Minnesota Vikings. Credit: theadvocate.com
New Orleans Saints tight end Irv Smith (82) catches a pass against the Minnesota Vikings. Credit: theadvocate.com
The Saints had a habit through the late 1990s of signing players who were well past their prime after starring for other teams. Three of those wore 82 for consecutive years in Quadry Ismail, Eddie Kennison, and Andrew Glover.
Ismail arrived in 1998. The speedy playmaker was anything but that with the Saints, playing 10 games and catching none of his four targets. Kennison fared much better in 1999, pulling in 61 receptions for 835 yards for 4 touchdowns. He led the 1999 team in targets (128), catches, and receiving yards.
Kennison was the last player that wasn't a tight end to wear 82 for New Orleans. Glover came with teammate Jake Reed over from the Minnesota Vikings in 2000. He spent the last of his 10-year career with the Saints, catching 21 passes for 281 yards and scoring 4 times.
New Orleans Saints tight end Boo Williams (82) runs after a catch. Credit: Instagram
New Orleans Saints tight end Boo Williams (82) runs after a catch. Credit: Instagram
Undrafted out of Arkansas in 2001, Boo Williams made the position change from wideout to tight end upon his arrival. Often a mismatch for defenses as a pass catcher, Williams played all of his four NFL years in New Orleans before a torn ACL ended his career. He had 107 receptions for 1,143 yards and caught 12 touchdowns over that span.
Benjamin Watson came to New Orleans in 2013 after successful stints with the Patriots and Browns. Watson spent his first two years with the Saints as the team's blocking tight end and receiving complement to Jimmy Graham, catching 39 passes for 362 yards and 4 touchdowns.
After Graham was traded during the 2015 offseason, Watson was asked step up into the primary tight end role. He'd respond with 74 receptions for 825 yards and 6 scores. It was by far the best production of his 15-year NFL career.
Dec 21, 2015; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2015; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Watson left after the 2015 season but returned in 2018 as a free agent. He'd catch 35 passes for 400 yards that year. Over four seasons with the Saints, Watson had 148 receptions for 1,587 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Between Watson's stints with the team, New Orleans brought in Coby Fleener between 2016 and 2017 to replace Graham and Watson's production. His production wasn't bad, but also failed to meet those lofty expectations.
In two years with the Saints, Fleener had 72 receptions for 926 yards and 5 scores. Most of that production was during his first year in 2016, when he caught 50 passes for 631 yards. Fleener was released by New Orleans during the 2018 offseason after re-signing Watson. The 2017 season was his last in the NFL.
Jan 1, 2017; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) catches a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-Imagn Images
Jan 1, 2017; New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener (82) catches a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-Imagn Images
Following Watson's second stint with the Saints, New Orleans traded up in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft to select Dayton tight end Adam Trautman. He'd play three seasons for the Saints before moving on to the Denver Broncos.
Trautman was never able to develop as an NFL pass catcher, recording 60 receptions for 641 yards and 4 touchdowns as a Saint. He was a serviceable blocker during his first two seasons, but declined in even that role during his last year with the team.
Nov 8, 2020; New Orleans Saints tight end Adam Trautman (82) catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2020; New Orleans Saints tight end Adam Trautman (82) catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
Welch looks to have an uphill battle to make this year's roster after spending 2024 on the practice squad. There is plenty of competition behind top tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau with returning players Dallin Holker and Michael Jacobson along with newcomers Moliki Matavao and Jack Stoll.
Best in open space in college at Wyoming, Welch will need to turn heads with his receiving skills and open field agility along with improve his blocking for a roster spot on the 2025 Saints.