Commanders TEs: Receiving Weapons and Confidence Builders for Jayden Daniels

The tight ends on the Washington Commanders roster may end up being the most important part of the offense under Kingsbury.

Author:
Terence Watson
May 15, 2024 11:46 AM EDT

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Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have done a great job of melding together rookies and veterans this offseason, and that group will be a key factor in helping Jayden Daniels, and the offense as a whole, in staying on the field.

The talk about rookie tight end Ben Sinnott is valid, his blend of size, speed, and deceptive route-running gets defenders off balance. He will be an effective weapon for Washington for years to come, but he isn't the only tight end offensive coordinator Kingsbury will utilize this season.

Take a look at how Kingsbury used tight ends in Arizona during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

In that span, Kingsbury targeted multiple tight ends 226 times, resulting in 158 receptions for 1,475 yards, nine touchdowns, and an average target depth of 7.5 yards.

Kingsbury has always looked to weaponize tight ends, his strategy in the past was to acquire receiving tight ends with different skill sets, and that's exactly what he's done in Washington. Zach Ertz and John Bates are blocking veterans and short-yardage targets, while Sinnott and Cole Turner are athletic deep/intermediate receivers and big red zone targets.

Kingsbury's tight ends will quickly become Daniels' safety outlets, giving them more curls, out routes, and seam routes to give his rookie quarterback easy targets. They will also help build his confidence and protect the rookie from a faster NFL pass rush.