The Washington Redskins are in need of a tight end. If he’s still available at pick 108, they should take a chance on Thaddeus Moss out of LSU.
The Washington Redskins need a tight end. Let’s not pretend like the offseason additions of Logan Thomas and Richard Rodgers are the solution. Nice depth pieces, sure, but not starters. And it’s not like the Redskins had the answer already on the team. Jeremy Sprinkle and Hale Hentges were the incumbent tight ends.
In 2019, those four combined for 50 receptions (Sprinkle had 26, Thomas had 16, Hentges had eight and Rodgers had none). The 50 receptions went for a combined 517 yards (Sprinkle had 241, Thomas had 173 and Hentges had 103) and three touchdowns (one apiece).
Hentges is just 23 and honestly kind of intriguing. However, he’s an undrafted tight end with just those eight catches in his career. Sprinkle has shown a little something as well but, in three seasons, not nearly enough. Thomas is athletic and Rodgers is a solid target. But neither are meant to be featured extremely heavily in an offense either.
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So the next option is getting someone through the 2020 NFL Draft. There’s one issue though: this isn’t the most tight end-heavy draft. Don’t be mistaken, there is a lot of solid talent in the draft but there is not an immediate game-changer in the class.
This actually works in Washington’s favor though. They have the second overall pick and many expect them to take pass-rushing phenom Chase Young from Ohio State with that pick. They don’t have a second-round pick, however. Washington’s next selection comes in the third round, No. 66 overall.
The Redskins could definitely go tight end at that spot. However, it may be better to wait and instead use that pick they can get some help for their secondary or, even more importantly, for the offensive line.
That brings us to the first of their two fourth-round picks. No. 108 to be exact. Let’s talk about Thaddeus Moss. The LSU product and, yes, the son of the great Randy Moss.
That last part has caused a lot of issues for Moss. Not in the media or anything but with where people want to put him. There was the hype, as he had his big moments at LSU. However, the numbers weren’t ever anything crazy. And that led to some worrying that he was being overrated because of his father. That’s actually had the opposite effect though.
Moss is definitely not “overrated” anymore. In fact, it feels like he’s starting to become pretty underrated simply because no one wants to be accused of being high on him “just because of his father”. Moss is solid though. He’s still just 21 years old (will turn 22 on May 14) and lists at 6–3, 249 pounds. So the size is there and he’s extremely young, meaning he’s not even close to his full potential.
Meanwhile, he racked up 47 receptions for 570 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. Those 47 receptions were tied for the 10th most amongst NCAA tight ends last season. The 570 yards were 13th and the four touchdowns were tied for 28th. That’s while being part of an offense at LSU where he was far from the first option, which is to his credit.
The most common draft projections for Moss have him going somewhere between the third and fifth rounds. So there’s a pretty solid chance he’s available for the Redskins to scoop up at No. 108. If that’s the case, Washington has to do it. Moss has the size and athleticism to be an absolute problem. He’s also a phenomenal blocker (perfect for a team like Washington with Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Peyton Barber and J.D. McKissic).
If we’re talking weaknesses, while the tight end has good hands, the route running needs work, however. That being said, he’s got a lot of time to learn (and his father could probably help him with that one).
Washington is in need of more playmakers offensively. And the easiest position to upgrade is tight end. Imagine them getting a stud young player (like Thaddeus Moss) at that position to pair with the 2019-rookie trio of Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims Jr. and Kelvin Harmon. Now add in another 2019 rookie in Dwayne Haskins throwing them the ball. That’s a lot of youth that can grow together.
Thaddeus Moss is always going to have his father’s name hanging around him. He proved in 2019 that he can create his own legacy though. And the Washington Redskins would be wise to let that legacy grow with them.