Washington Redskins: Tight end a second-round target in NFL Draft?

The Washington Redskins have needs and tight end probably isn’t their top one. However if one falls to them in the second round, do they go for it?

The Washington Redskins have a lot of needs at the moment. They desperately need a quarterback that they can build around. Then, of course, there are needs at receiver and the offensive line. On the other side of the ball, Washington could use help in the secondary still, as well as linebacker (especially someone in the middle).

Although it’s near the bottom of that list, tight end should be on there as well. At first glance, tight end is a solid position for the Redskins. They have Jordan Reed as the star, with Vernon Davis being the fantastic veteran back up. Even Jeremy Sprinkle has shown potential. All you have to do is the slightest amount of digging and this position falls apart though.

Jordan Reed’s never played more than 14 games in a season in his career. And he’s only done just once (2015). Over the last three years, he’s missed a combined 17 games out of a possible 48. Even when he does play, Reed tends to miss time in games.

More from NFL Spin Zone

In 2018, Reed appeared in 13 games. That’s 81.3 percent of regular season games. Despite that, he only played in 50.2 percent of the Redskins offensive snaps. A lot of that has to do with him missing quarters in games due to injuries. In fact, Reed’s injury concerns have brought me to a drastic question before. Should he consider retiring? The concussion history alone is scary.

Behind him is Davis, who’s done a nice job of revitalizing his career since joining the Redskins in 2016. That being said, he’s 35 didn’t look as good in 2018 compared to his first two seasons in Washington. Quite a few massive drops from the former first-round pick. He’s still a great piece to have, but with Reed’s uncertainty the Redskins might want to get Davis some help.

If/when something happens to Reed, how much longer can Davis carry the load at the position?

With that in mind this becomes a position Washington needs to start worrying about. It’s foolish to expect Reed to play 16 games when he hasn’t done so once in his six year career, and Davis isn’t what he once was anymore. The tight end position could quickly turn into a black hole for the Redskins if they aren’t careful.

Therefore, it might be worth it for Washington to take a tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft. Not only that, but they should be looking at the top two prospects at the position, both coming from the University of Iowa.

T.J. Hockenson will be the first tight end off the board. He’s projected to go in the first round, possibly early second round. Hockenson is an all-around monster. There’s really no weakness in his game as he’s a mismatch in the passing game and a fantastic run blocker.

Then there’s Noah Fant, who split snaps with Hockenson last season. He’s projected to go in the second round on most boards. While he isn’t the best blocking tight end, he has the frame to improve there. Like Hockenson, he’s animal in the passing game and will create a lot of mismatches for his team.

Both are similar in a lot of ways. Hockenson is 6-5, 251 pounds while Fant is 6-4, 249 pounds. Fant is more athletic and had the better combine, but Hockenson has very little he needs to improve on overall. These could be bold comparisons, but Hockenson is a lot like Rob Gronkowski, while Fant is Jordan Reed — if Reed would stay healthy.

Either of the two could be instant contributors in an NFL offense. More importantly, though, they could be game changers — even so that the Redskins should at least consider drafting one if they fall to them in the second round.

Next. 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Post-free agency first wave. dark

Having a reliable young talent to build around at the position could be big for Washington. Especially with their quarterback situation up in the air. Having someone like either of these two at the position to grow with a young quarterback could create an incredibly deadly connection. And yes, the Redskins should get a young quarterback soon — if not this offseason, then next year.

If Jordan Reed was healthy – he’s one of the best tight ends in the world. He’s yet to be healthy though. It’s a tough situation, but it’s one the Washington Redskins will need to address at some point. If T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant are available in the second round, it’s worth it for the Washington Redskins to at least entertain drafting one of the two.

Home/NFL Draft