2nd-Year Surge? Former 2nd-Rounder Eyeing Breakout in 2025

After a quiet rookie season that left many fans questioning his second-round draft status, Ben Sinnott may finally be turning the corner, and just in time. As the Washington Commanders prepare for a season filled with high expectations and national attention, the second-year tight end is emerging as a player to watch.

Selected with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sinnott was touted as a versatile, modern-day tight end who could stretch the field and block in space. But year one didn’t go as planned. He struggled to find a consistent role, often looking disjointed, and ended his rookie campaign with forgettable numbers: just five catches for 28 yards and one touchdown.

Fast forward to 2025, and the early signs are promising. During organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp, Sinnott looked far more comfortable in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, which emphasizes tempo, spacing, and mismatch opportunities, all areas where Sinnott can thrive.

Coaches and teammates have noticed, and if his offseason momentum carries into training camp, Sinnott could finally live up to the expectations that followed him out of Kansas State.

Growing Confidence Within the Offense

In OTAs, Sinnott showed off improved timing with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is also entering his second year and already has full command of the offense. Sinnott was used in a variety of alignments; in-line, H-back, and occasionally split out wide and made several standout plays in 7-on-7 and red zone drills. His ability to quickly turn upfield after the catch and find soft spots in zone coverage was particularly noticeable.

Sinnott appears more confident and fluid in his movements. His route running looks sharper, and he’s no longer second-guessing his reads. Coaches noted that his understanding of the playbook has taken a “major leap,” which is allowing him to play faster and more instinctively.

“Ben’s been one of the more improved guys from Year 1 to Year 2,” said a team source. “He’s catching everything, and he’s getting open more consistently. He’s starting to look like the guy we thought we drafted.”

Opportunity Knocks in a Diverse Tight End Room

While veteran Zach Ertz remains the focal point TE, and John Bates is a specialist at blocking, the door is still open for Sinnott with improvement to get major reps on gameday.

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he has the frame and athleticism to become a reliable chain-mover and red zone threat. In college, he was known for his soft hands, sneaky speed, and ability to break tackles after the catch. These are traits that fit well in a Commanders’ offense looking for mismatches against linebackers and safeties.

With Daniels’ dual-threat arsenal and defenses likely to key on Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Ertz, there will be plenty of favorable matchups for another tight end who can exploit spaces out wide and in the seams.

If Sinnott continues to build trust with Daniels through training camp, there’s every reason to believe he could become a breakout player, particularly in a system that’s built for his skill set.

Sinnott may have disappointed in year one, but the script is far from written.

The talent, work ethic, and scheme fit are all aligning for a second-year surge. If he delivers on the early buzz from minicamp, Sinnott could emerge as a key piece of Washington’s offensive puzzle and one of the surprise contributors in the NFC this fall.