The Washington Commanders selected Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Washington took things slowly with Sinnott in his rookie year, mainly cutting his teeth on special teams.
Sinnott caught all five of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown offensively, but was buried in the tight end depth chart behind Zack Ertz and John Bates.
Ertz and Bates worked well as a starting pairing, with Ertz being second on the team with 66 receptions, 654 yards and seven touchdowns. Bates excelled in the blocking game, especially in the playoffs, where he had PFF blocking grades of 74.0, 72.9 and 92.2 in the Commanders' three playoff matchups.
Ertz and Bates both deservedly earned new contracts this offseason. While it may be a bit tougher for Sinnott to carve out a role offensively, it does continue to give the Commanders' offense more reliable weapons.
Reports out of camp regarding Sinnott have been very promising, though. Riggo's Rag's Dean Jones highlighted five Commanders who turned heads in minicamp, and Sinnott was one of them.
"There's an extra sense of sharpness to Sinnott's route-running and explosiveness out of his cuts according to those watching on at Washington's mandatory minicamp. He's creating separation with more frequency, which is helping build trust with quarterback Jayden Daniels for good measure."
Commanders' head coach Dan Quinn shouted out Sinnott as one of the players who have stepped up in camp as players and as leaders.
Sinnott has placed his trust in Washington's strategy to build him up slow and steady. He's shown flashes on the field and in practice, but the process is equally as important as the results. He seemingly is responding well to the challenge.
Washington clearly sees Sinnott as a franchise cornerstone, taking him with the No. 53 overall pick in 2024. Ertz was able to rejuvenate his career a bit with a bounce back year, but the 35-year old won't be around forever, and prior to 2024, looked to be on the way out after decreased production and injuries in Arizona.
Sinnott will be patiently waiting in the wings for an opportunity, ready to pounce when the opportunity strikes.