The Detroit Lions have signed another rookie minicamp tryout: veteran TE Parker Hesse. Here’s more about the former defensive end.

On Sunday, it was reported the Detroit Lions were signing rookie minicamp tryout Kaden Davis to their 90-man roster. On Monday, the Lions confirmed that signing, along with one more player who was at Allen Park to try out: tight end Parker Hesse.

Hesse, 28, was actually the second oldest player at rookie minicamp (only to 29-year-old Mathieu Betts). Yet another NFL tight end who went to Iowa—although he was a defensive lineman in college—Hesse went undrafted in 2019, but spent two years with the Tennessee Titans, transitioning his game to tight end. He has spent the last three years with the Atlanta Falcons, jumping on and off their practice squad. That said, he has made 28 game appearances for the Falcons, including eight starts.

At 6-foot-3, 261 pounds, he’s built like a blocking tight end, and obviously, his history as a defensive tackle offers someone who welcomes contact. That said, his run blocking grades at the NFL level have been just marginal, earning a 72.5 PFF his first season in Atlanta, and 61.2 and 50.9 the last two years.

In his most active year (2022), Hesse did add nine catches for 89 yards over 17 game appearances and seven starts—a big help to the Falcons, who were missing Kyle Pitts due to an injury.

“The things we ask Parker Hesse to do that nobody will ever notice, guy just does his job,” former Falcons coach Arthur Smith said back in 2023. “You see why he was a captain at Iowa—a defensive end, by the way. Just a thankless professional that doesn’t get enough credit.”

Hesse joins a fairly crowded tight end room that includes Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra, and undrafted rookie Isaac Rex.