Saints rule out Oscar Delp (hamstring) for Week 1

Delp is almost assuredly going to be ruled out tomorrow. The rookie tight end was unlikely to meaningfully challenge TE Juwan Johnson for targets early in the year, and the hamstring strain only reinforces that.

Delp has been out for multiple weeks with the hamstring issue. A DNP to open the season likely puts him on the wrong side of questionable. His absence will lock in Juwan Johnson as an every-down player, though that was barely a question even before this injury.

Delp is dealing with a hamstring injury, missing the Saints’ practice on Tuesday. With Jordan Tyson (hamstring) slated to miss at least the next couple months, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche and Garafolo believe the Saints will lean on their tight ends. The rookie Delp is behind Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant on the depth chart. Based on Garafolo’s report, he won’t miss too much time with his hamstring strain; he has upside as a Dynasty stash but Juwan Johnson should be the top tight end as a low-end fantasy TE1 heading into the 2026 season.

Jackson noted that the rookie tight end was “the top target for the team’s offense” during the team’s first day of minicamp. Most rookie tight ends don’t bring much fantasy value to the table in their first season, but Delp could be the latest exception to that rule, especially if Moore plans to follow the trend of 12 and even 13 personnel sweeping the league. Delp wasn’t awfully productive at Georgia, peaking at just 284 yards as a sophomore, but he is a solid YAC creator and isn’t afraid to put his hand in the dirt to block. Delp should at least be on the radar in all dynasty formats.

Apparently, the rookie tight end picked up a hamstring injury during organized team activities last week. He participated in punt drills as well as walkthrough today. The Saints have one last practice tomorrow before going on a brief break until mandatory minicamp, which begins on June 16th, so hopefully he can increase his workload without issue tomorrow. That said, we are not overly concerned about Delp’s status. He may only be limited to TE2 duties behind veteran TE Juwan Johnson this season.

Spending all four of his college seasons at Georgia, Delp (6’5/245) has limited receiving production but possesses a good build and flashes physicality. A starter for three years, Delp never surpassed 300 yards receiving during his time with the Bulldogs. Serviceable with the ball in his hands, Delp averaged 7.9 yards after catch per reception, No. 17 among tight ends last season. As a blocker, he lacks length but has the physicality and agility to block in motion. Playing through a hairline fracture in his left foot for 2025, Delp had limited testing at the NFL Combine. Still, his toolset contains enough to make him “a prime candidate to be a better pro than he was a college player,” according to the Athletic’s Dane Brugler. An NFL team may take a chance on Delp to reach a ceiling he has yet to hit.

Delp has been very busy lately. He also took top-30 visits with the Buccaneers, Chargers, Vikings, Patriots, and Ravens. Delp was a three-year starter at Georgia, playing sidekick to current Raiders TE Brock Bowers in 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, Delp never became a featured receiving option after Bowers was drafted. Delp possesses good size and athleticism. He has the potential to develop at the pro level.

Delp last week made pre-draft visits with the Vikings, Patriots, and Ravens. Delp at Georgia was a little-used tight end who totaled 65 receptions for 793 yards and seven touchdowns over his final three collegiate seasons. He was targeted on a meager 13 percent of his pass routes over those three years. Delp, 23, profiles as a rotational tight end to start his NFL career, though he has some upside if he lands in the right spot. In LA he would compete with Oronde Gadsden II for tight end snaps and routes, and in Tampa he would compete with Cade Otton, who recently re-signed with the Bucs.