Commanders’ Underperforming TE Called ‘Biggest Disappointment’ on Roster

When the Washington Commanders entered the 2024 NFL draft with 9 picks, including 6 in the first 3 rounds, there was little hope a team who stumbled and bumbled its way through the previous 30 years could spin their draft class into gold.

The Commanders went against type and delivered in the biggest, franchise changing way possible.

Out of the first 5 picks, 4 of them were instant starters as rookies, including NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall.

Defensive back Mike Sainristil (No. 50 overall) was one of the NFL’s best rookie defenders and genius in a playoff run to the NFC Championship Game — that included 2 interceptions in the regular season and 2 interceptions in a stunning upset of the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round.

Defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (No. 36 overall) looked like he could be dominant down the stretch. Offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (No. 67 overall) started 12 games at left offensive tackle, protecting Daniels’ blind side.

That just leaves tight end Ben Sinnott, a second round pick (No. 53 overall).

Sinnott, 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds, got outplayed and overshadowed by Zach Ertz, a 34-year-old tight end on a 1-year contract who finished the previous season on the practice squad for the Lions and was second on the Commanders with 66 receptions for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Sinnott played all 17 regular season games as a rookie and finished the year with just 5 receptions for 28 yards and 1 touchdown on just 5 targets.

That type of falling-on-your-face level of production got Sinnott placed on NFL reporter Dov Kleiman’s list of the “Most Disappointing Player” on all 32 NFL teams on June 16 — after Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine called tight end the “Biggest Position Need” for the Commanders on offense one day earlier.

Commanders Got Promising Glimpse in Preseason

All football fans are probably guilty of putting too much into a good preseason performance — especially when it comes to rookies. Sinnott’s preseason in 2024 seemed especially promising and made fans — and his own team — think he was ready to contribute.

Sinnott looked especially good in a 20-17 preseason win over the New York Jets in which he caught 3 passes for 57 yards, including a 44-yard catch-and-run in which the Jets needed multiple players to take him down at the end.

Sinnott’s performance landed him on a much different list than Kleiman’s when  Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski put him on his list of the Top 10 rookies in the NFL in the preseason.

“General manager Adam Peters drafted Sinnott in the second round for a reason,” Sobleski wrote. “He’s a tremendous athlete who can provide a safety blanket for his quarterbacks … While Ertz is a well-established veteran, Sinnott can grow into an excellent weapon for Kliff Kingsbury’s passing attack.”

In three seasons at Kansas State, Sinnott had 82 receptions for 1,138 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as 1 rushing touchdown on the way to being a two-time All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2023. His 10 receiving touchdowns tied the Kansas State career record for tight ends.

He was also the highest-draft tight end for the Commanders since Fred Davis in the second round (No. 48 overall) of the 2008 NFL draft.