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Washington Redskins: What is Logan Paulsen’s Role?

By Hunter Noll

Jul 28, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen (82) and Redskins tight end Marcel Jensen (83) kneel on the field during drills as part of afternoon practice on day one of training camp at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2016; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen (82) and Redskins tight end Marcel Jensen (83) kneel on the field during drills as part of afternoon practice on day one of training camp at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Redskins won’t have to worry about a shortage of tight ends in 2016. Jordan Reed, Niles Paul, and Vernon Davis will make sure of that. Where does Logan Paulsen fit in, though?

Despite never eclipsing 28 receptions, 308 receiving yards, or three touchdowns in a season, Paulsen has been a mainstay in Washington. The seven-year tight end has spent his entire career with the Redskins, and there’s good reason for that. While his receiving numbers are nothing special, there are plenty of factors that go into why he’s so valuable to the Redskins.

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First of all, Paulsen is never the primary tight end. Whether it was Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, Niles Paul, or Jordan Reed ahead of him, Paulsen has always played in a reserve role.

Then there’s his blocking abilities. Paulsen’s always found a way on the roster because of it. No offense to some of the names above, but none of them exactly excelled at blocking. Paulsen can be used as an extra offensive lineman on passing plays and help shut down an edge rusher, or he can be a stone wall in the running game. His 6’5″, 268 lb frame is complemented perfectly with his athletic ability to make him one of the better blocking tight ends in football. This does, however, limit his playing time.

He’s also never complained about this, and seems to be extremely well-liked in the locker room and in the front office. If a player is doing enough on the field, it’s impossible to warrant letting him go when he has such a positive impact on the team’s chemistry.

His work ethic is thrown right in with why he is such a great presence in the locker room.

For proof of this, look no further than the parking spots. Jay Gruden recently rewarded the Redskins players that he felt were working the hardest this offseason with their own personal parking spots (via Laken Litman of USAToday).

That’s five starters, one possible starter, one large role player, and Paulsen, the man considered by many to be the “fourth” tight end on the roster.

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A parking spot may not mean much to some, but to me it’s a sign that Paulsen’s ready to show Redskins fans why he’s been a mainstay on the roster for so many years.

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