Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80 Saints Player of the Day Moliki Matavao faces heavy competition for a roster spot.
Today leaves 80 days before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season. New Orleans will start their year, 59th in franchise history, at home against the Arizona Cardinals. After a 5-12 finish last season, it will also be their first year under new head coach Kellen Moore. Rookie tight end Moliki Matavao will be sporting number 80 for the Saints through training camp. If he makes the team and keeps the number into the regular season, Matavao would become the 33rd Saint to don the jersey. Here's a look at his background as our Saints Player of the Day.
Name (age): Moliki Matavao (22)
Moliki Matavao (22) Hometown: Henderson, Nev.
Henderson, Nev. Position: Tight end
Tight end Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds
6-foot-6, 260 pounds College: UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Relative Athletic Score: 6.59
6.59 Drafted: Round 7, 248th overall (Saints)
Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) NFL experience: Rookie
Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $865,418
A graduate of Liberty High School in Nevada, Matavao began his collegiate career as a four-star recruit at the University of Oregon. Over two seasons with the Ducks, Matavao caught passes 19 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the 2022 campaign, Matavao would transfer to UCLA. In his first season with the Bruins, Matavao put up similar numbers with 14 receptions and 2 scores, but an explosive 283 yards and over 20 yards per catch. Last season was Matavao's most productive, pulling in 41 passes for 506 yards to lead the Bruins in both categories.
New Orleans selected Matavao with their first of two choices in Round 7 of this spring's draft. He is the first tight end drafted by the Saints since Adam Trautman in 2020 and only the third tight end drafted by New Orleans since 2010. Since 2003, the Saints have only drafted Jimmy Graham, Alize Mack, Trautman, and Matavao at the position.
Matavao faces stiff competition for a roster spot. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, currently rehabbing a knee injury, have the top two spots essentially secured. Dallin Holker, Jack Stoll, Michael Jacobson, Treyton Welch, and Matavao will compete for probably one spot on the active roster and possible practice squad slots. While he has excellent size, Matavao is a better blocker than receiver. This will likely be the key to earning a job with the Saints in 2025.
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