.jpg) Saubert with theAtlanta Falcons in 2018 | |||||||||
| No. 81 – Seattle Seahawks | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tight end | ||||||||
| Roster status |  Injured reserve | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1994-05-09)May 9, 1994 (age 31) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 253 lb (115 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Hoffman Estates(Hoffman Estates, Illinois) | ||||||||
| College | Drake (2012–2016) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2017: 5th round, 174th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Eric Saubert (born May 9, 1994) is an American professionalfootballtight end for theSeattle Seahawks of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theDrake Bulldogs,[1] and was selected by theAtlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the2017 NFL draft.
On December 5, 2016, it was announced that Saubert had accepted an invitation to play in the2017 East–West Shrine Game.[2] He impressed scouts and analysts throughout practices for the Shrine Game, displaying his athleticism, receiving ability, and received praises from multiple media members, including NFL analystMike Mayock.[3] On January 21, 2017, Saubert played in theEast–West Shrine Game and was part of an East team that lost 10–3 to the West. Unfortunately, he was unable to record areception although he was targeted twice.[4] On January 26, 2017, it was announced that Saubert would be a late addition to play in the2017 Senior Bowl.[5] He attended two days later and was a part ofCleveland Browns head coachHue Jackson's South team that defeated the North 16–15. He was unable to record a reception with top draft prospectsO. J. Howard,David Njoku, andGerald Everett on his team and only having a day of practice. Saubert was one of 19 collegiate tight ends to receive an invitation to theNFL Scouting Combine inIndianapolis, Indiana.[6] He tied for second amongst his position group in thebench press, fifth in thebroad jump, and eighth in thevertical jump and opted to only perform those drills.[7] On March 28, 2017, Saubert attended Iowa State'spro day and performed all of the combine drills and positional drills. He ran receiving drills withCincinnati Bengals tight ends coachJonathan Hayes for the 33 team representatives and scouts who attended from 22 NFL teams.[8] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Saubert was projected to be a fifth or sixth round pick byNFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the 12th best tight end prospect in the draft byCBS Sports and was ranked the 13th best tight end by NFLDraftScout.com.[9]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+3⁄4 in (1.95 m) | 253 lb (115 kg) | 33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) | 10+3⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.69 s | 1.63 s | 2.72 s | 4.59 s | 7.34 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 22 reps | 35 |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Iowa State'sPro Day[10][9][11] | ||||||||||||
TheAtlanta Falcons selected Saubert in the fifth round (174th overall) of the2017 NFL draft.[12] He was the first player selected from Drake sincePat Dunsmore was selected in the fourth round (183rd overall) of the1983 NFL draft. Saubert was the 20th player drafted in Drake University history. He was the 12th tight end drafted in 2017.[13]On May 11, 2017, the Falcons signed Saubert to a four-year, $2.62 million contract that includes asigning bonus of $227,388.[14]
With the departure ofJacob Tamme in free agency, Saubert competed for the starting tight end job throughout training camp, againstAustin Hooper andLevine Toilolo. Head coachDan Quinn named him the third string tight end to begin the regular season.[15]
He made his professional regular season debut in the Falcons' season-opening 23–17 victory at theChicago Bears.[16] He played in 14 games his rookie year but did not record any statistics. Saubert had five catches for 48 yards (9.6 yards per catch) in 2018 as he saw action in all 16 games, including one start.[17]
On August 12, 2019, Saubert was traded to theNew England Patriots for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the2020 NFL draft.[18] He was released during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[19]
Saubert signed with theOakland Raiders'practice squad on September 1, 2019.[20]
On November 30, 2019, Saubert was signed by the Bears off the Raiders practice squad.[21] He caught two passes for 21 yards during the 2019 season.[22]
Saubert was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Bears on July 29, 2020,[23] and activated from the list five days later.[24] He was waived by the team on September 16, 2020.[25]
On September 19, 2020, Saubert was signed to theJacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[26] He was elevated to the active roster on October 24 for the team's Week 7 game against theLos Angeles Chargers, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[27] Saubert was signed to the active roster on November 21.[28]
Saubert signed with theDenver Broncos on May 3, 2021.[29] He made the active roster as the third TE on the depth chart and recorded one catch for 7 yards in Week 1 against theNew York Giants.[30] After posting just a single catch in Week 2 and no stats in Weeks 3-5, Saubert had a career best day in the Week 6 loss to theLas Vegas Raiders with 3 catches for 27 yards and an onside kick recovery. He caught the firsttouchdown pass of his career in the Week 12 win against the Chargers.[31]
On May 4, 2022, Saubert re-signed with the Broncos.[32]
On March 17, 2023, Saubert signed a one-year contract with theMiami Dolphins.[33] He was placed on injured reserve on August 29, then released a week later.[34]
On October 24, 2023, theDallas Cowboys signed Saubert to their practice squad.[35] He appeared in his only game during the Week 8 game against the Rams.
On October 31, 2023, Saubert was signed by theHouston Texans off the Cowboys practice squad.[36]
On April 8, 2024, Saubert signed with theSan Francisco 49ers.[37]
On March 24, 2025, Saubert signed with theSeattle Seahawks.[38] He was placed on injured reserve on November 1, due to a calf injury.[39]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Returning | Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2017 | ATL | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | ATL | 16 | 1 | 5 | 48 | 9.6 | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | CHI | 2 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | JAX | 8 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | DEN | 17 | 4 | 8 | 47 | 5.9 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | DEN | 17 | 6 | 15 | 148 | 9.9 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | DAL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| HOU | 9 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | SF | 17 | 3 | 11 | 97 | 8.8 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 101 | 19 | 47 | 389 | 8.3 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | |
Media related toEric Saubert at Wikimedia Commons