Moliki Matavao: UCLA's Drafted Tight End Navigating the Saints' Landscape
The New Orleans Saints, in a strategic move during the 2025 NFL Draft, selected tight end Moliki Matavao from UCLA with the 248th overall pick. This selection, occurring on Saturday, April 26, 2025, marked the culmination of Matavao's collegiate journey and the beginning of his professional aspirations in the National Football League. Matavao, a senior hailing from Henderson, Nevada, brought a wealth of experience and a notable impact from his time with both the Oregon Ducks and the UCLA Bruins. His journey to the NFL is a narrative of development, determination, and the ever-present dynamics of professional sports rosters.
A Collegiate Career of Growth and Impact
Moliki Matavao's path through college football was one of consistent improvement and increasing significance. Initially a highly-touted four-star recruit, his collegiate career began with the Oregon Ducks. However, after spending his first two seasons with the Oregon Ducks and earning very little playing time, Matavao sought a new environment to further his development. This led him to transfer to UCLA, where he would ultimately blossom into a prominent player.
At UCLA, Matavao quickly made his presence felt. He earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors in 2023, a testament to his growing abilities and impact on the field. His senior season in 2024 was particularly stellar, as he led the UCLA Bruins in both receptions and receiving yards. This breakout performance was a direct correlation to his eventual selection by the Saints. In 11 games last season, the former Bruin earned 41 receptions for 506 yards and two touchdowns, setting career highs in each statistical category. His play this season was a direct correlation to becoming a Saint in 2025. He capped his college career with an impressive 74 catches for 998 yards and five touchdowns, demonstrating a significant and impactful progression throughout his time in college football.
ESPN draft analyst Steven Muench provided insight into what made Matavao stand out, highlighting his 2024 season numbers and his key strengths. Muench noted Matavao's wide frame at 6-foot-8 and 263 pounds, suggesting he possesses the physical attributes to be a strong piece for future seasons in New Orleans. "Matavao led the Bruins with 41 catches and 506 receiving yards in 2024," Muench wrote. "He's a smooth route runner who is quicker than fast and gets to his spots. He can separate with size and strength at the top of routes. He squares to the quarterback and boxes out defenders. Matavao catches passes in traffic over the middle. He gets north-south and breaks tackles after the catch. He's strong enough to cover defenders in space and develop into an effective in-line blocker." This assessment underscores Matavao's potential as a dual-threat tight end, capable of contributing both as a receiver and a blocker.
Draft Day and the Saints' Strategic Addition
The New Orleans Saints' decision to draft Matavao was not a casual one. They traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire the 248th overall pick, signaling a clear intent to add another offensive piece to their roster. Matavao's selection at the very tail end of the draft, as one of the final 10 picks, highlights the Saints' belief in his potential despite his late-round status. He joins a group of fellow UCLA alumni who were also selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, including linebackers Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland) and Kain Medrano (Washington), edge Oluwafemi Oladejo (Tennessee), and defensive tackle Jay Toia (Dallas). The selection of five different Bruins this year underscores the elite talent that emerged from the UCLA program.
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Matavao is poised to join a tight end room in New Orleans that is led by veteran players Taysom Hill and Juwan Johnson. His development will be crucial as he aims to carve out a role within this established group. He will also be joining fellow offensive draft picks, Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough (second round) and Kansas running back Devin Neal (sixth round), contributing to the team's offensive strategy for the upcoming seasons.
Navigating the Tight End Landscape: Performance and Opportunity
Like any professional athlete, Moliki Matavao's primary goal is to earn a roster spot and contribute to his team's success based on his performance. However, the reality of professional sports often presents opportunities through unforeseen circumstances, most notably injuries. Matavao's situation with the New Orleans Saints is a prime example of this dynamic.
The Saints' tight end depth has been significantly impacted by injuries. As training camp opened, the team waived former undrafted free agent tight end Dallin Holker. Holker, a second-year player out of Colorado State, had shown some intrigue as a potential H-back option but had not managed to establish a significant role. His decision to retire from football, as announced on his personal Instagram account, further thinned the tight end ranks. This development was particularly noteworthy given the existing injury concerns within the team.
The article continued to detail the challenging circumstances facing the Saints' tight end unit: "This year should've been Holker's best chance to stick around with injuries to both Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill, who will start training camp on PUP. It's worth mentioning that Holker dealt with his own ankle injury during minicamp earlier this offseason, and that may have played a part in his decision." The cumulative effect of these injuries has created a situation where the Saints have little choice but to provide Moliki Matavao with every opportunity to prove himself and earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
NFL.com's Assessment: Strengths and Areas for Development
NFL.com's overview of Moliki Matavao provides a professional scouting perspective on his capabilities and areas where he might need to improve. The assessment highlights him as a "big in-line tight end whose flashes as a pass catcher helped to improve his draft stock." This aligns with the observations of his improved receiving statistics at UCLA.
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The report notes that Matavao "possesses a pro frame" and "gets into routes and early break points with above-average quickness." These are desirable traits for a tight end looking to contribute to an NFL offense. However, the assessment also points to potential limitations: "His play speed has an expiration date, though, and coverage tends to close him out if the route lasts too long." This suggests that while he can create separation effectively on shorter to intermediate routes, his ability to sustain that separation on longer developing plays might be a challenge against quicker NFL defensive backs.
Crucially, the NFL.com analysis also addresses his run-blocking abilities: "Matavao will do what he's asked as a run blocker but lacks pad level, hand placement and aggression at the point." This is a critical area for any tight end, particularly those expected to play an in-line role. The report concludes by stating, "The frame and athleticism could help him make a roster, but sticking around might require an upgrade as a run blocker." This candid assessment underscores that while Matavao's physical gifts and receiving prowess have earned him a draft selection and a chance, his long-term success and ability to secure a lasting roster spot will likely hinge on his development as a run blocker. The Saints will undoubtedly be looking to refine these aspects of his game to maximize his potential contribution to their offense.
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