Saints-Vikings Hill 34-. New Orleans Saints, September 21, 2014

New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill (89) celebrates with Jimmy Graham (80) after he catches a 34-yard touchdown during the game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints at the Superdome on Sunday, September 21, 2014. (Michael DeMocker, Nola.com / The Times-Picayune)

(Michael DeMocker)

For Josh Hill, the disadvantage of having a locker next to Jimmy Graham was getting blocked out when reporters and TV cameras surrounded the team's star tight end.

In 2015, Hill will have a new neighbor in the New Orleans Saints locker room and he'll probably be surrounded by a lot more reporters.

Hill, a third-year tight end from Idaho State, emerged as an unexpected weapon last season and is likely to see a bigger role after the Saints traded Graham to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this month.

Other than losing a friend and mentor, Hill said he doesn't expect anything to change his approach to 2015.

"Jimmy was a big help for me transitioning from college to here, coming from a smaller school and a smaller city," Hill said Tuesday before an appearance at Ethel Schoeffner Elementary in Destrehan. "He was always there for me. We became pretty good friends the last couple of years. It'll definitely be different without him."

Hill caught 14 passes for 176 yards and five touchdowns in 2014. He made the team as an undrafted free agent a year earlier. Saints coach Sean Payton praised Hill effusively last week at the NFL owners meetings.

"It's flattering, but it doesn't change anything," said Hill, who said he still considers 11-year veteran Ben Watson as the leader of the tight ends unit.

"I'm approaching (2015) with the same mentality I had coming in as an undrafted free agent."

A native of Blackfoot, Idaho, Hill now makes his home in New Orleans with his wife and two children (including a daughter born in December).

Despite an outwardly soft-spoken demeanor, he recently appeared in a TV commercial for a local car dealership and plans to take on more more community appearances like the one he did on Tuesday.

"I've definitely expanded my role in the community," Hill said. "I want to reach out and do what I can."

Hill said he found out about the trade of Graham from his wife and was "surprised, like everyone else."

He acknowledges that the departure of Graham could put more pressure on the rest of the tight ends, including himself, but he has no plans to spend time worrying about it.

"It might open a few other opportunities for me as I try to continue to grow in my role," he said. "We'll see where it goes from there. I don't think I feel too much pressure. I try to have the same mentality and do what they ask me to do. That's it."