After a stellar scouting combine, it appears Hibner is a fast riser, and one NFC team has its eye on the talented tight end.
We are at the stage of the NFL offseason when teams are planning their top-30 visits with draft prospects, and SMU's Matthew Hibner might see his phone light up with calls over the coming weeks.
After an impressive scouting combine that saw him post a 4.57 40-yard dash, Hibner quickly got himself on the radar of several NFL teams.
With Hibner switching from Michigan to SMU in 2024, we quickly got a glimpse of his talents.
While the stats don't show an extremely productive tight end (in two seasons, 804 yards, 8 TDs), it was Matthew's ability to shine as a receiver and, more importantly, be a vertical threat in the passing game that made him a candidate to watch throughout the draft process.
As such, Aaron Wilson reported that Hibner had dinner with the New Orleans Saints last week.
With Kellen Moore entering his second season as head coach, the Saints are in need of field stretchers in the passing game.
Hibner ticks that box.
He averaged 15.3 yards per reception in 2024 and 14.1 yards per reception last season, so he's a chain-mover. Moore will love that.
Now, just because Hibner had dinner with the Saints doesn't mean the NFC South franchise will select him. But it does mean he's on their radar.
He also had dinner with the Dallas Cowboys, which is a very interesting turn of events.
Brian Schottenheimer already has Jake Ferguson and Brevyn Spann-Ford as the top two on the depth chart. Then Luke Schoonmaker and Princeton Fant make up the room.
We know Dak Prescott loves connecting on seam routes with Ferguson; well, Hibner can do that as well.
Set to make the transition to the NFL as a receiving tight end, more so than a blocking tight end like Schoonmaker, it is clear that after his combine, NFL teams have taken a liking to Hibner.
Projected to be a Day 3 selection, Hibner is rising fast on draft boards, and it remains to be seen if some teams take a chance on him in the second round (does seem like a reach).
But either way, Hibner, after a stellar offseason, has put himself in a great position ahead of the draft.