Ben Sinnott

Ertz will be gone, but Sinnott has yet to capitalize on expanded opportunities with him on the field. In his second season, he finished with 11 receptions for 114 yards and 1 TD on 13 targets, catching 7 of 9 targets for 73 yards during the final four games—showing modest improvement late but insufficient overall production.

Over two seasons, 19 of 22 first-three-round tight ends drafted in the last four years have gained more receiving yards than Sinnott, with only Cameron Latu and Tip Reiman underperforming him. When drafted 53rd overall in 2024, Sinnott was compared to George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk by GM Adam Peters—expectations he has dramatically underperformed.

Over two seasons, Sinnott has just 16 receptions for 142 yards and 1 TD—dramatically underperforming 19 of 22 first-three-round TEs drafted in the last four years. His 26.9% snap share in 2025 and inability to capitalize even when Ertz was sidelined creates legitimate bust concerns for a 2024 second-round pick.

Washington signed Chig Okonkwo to a 3-year, $27M deal ($16.7M fully guaranteed) as their clear #1 receiving TE, replacing the ACL-torn Ertz and directly blocking Sinnott's path to a featured role. With John Bates retained on an extension as the blocking TE, Sinnott enters 2026 as the third TE on the depth chart.

Despite Ertz missing four games with a torn ACL in 2025, Sinnott managed only 11 catches for 114 yards and 1 TD across 16 games — a damning indictment of his inability to capitalize on opportunity. His season-long PPR rank of #59 and 3.2 PPG reflect marginal real-world value even in a starter-adjacent role.

Sinnott is an unrestricted free agent after 2026 with no extension reported, and John Bates already has a deal as the blocking specialist. If Blough's role change doesn't stick in camp, Sinnott is a legitimate preseason cut candidate entering his third year.

With Ertz sidelined due to a torn right ACL, Washington will get a long look at Sinnott in 2026. It would be ideal for Sinnott to show enough to warrant a legitimate chance to take over from Ertz in 2026, though that is not a foregone conclusion.

Zach Ertz suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 14 and turns 36 next season with an uncertain future. Sinnott averaged 62% snap share over the final three games and showed modest improvement (7 of 9 targets for 73 yards in final four games), creating a legitimate path to TE1 duties in 2026.

Jayden Daniels is a franchise QB with multiple years of control, and Washington's offense ranked top-10 in passing efficiency in 2024. If Sinnott establishes chemistry with Daniels in his age-24 season, he benefits from one of the NFL's best young QB situations for the next 3-5 years.

Sinnott has elite athletic traits at the tight end position and was a 2024 second-round pick with strong athleticism. He is more of a catch-and-run guy who can win versus man coverage but is better at getting the ball in his hands and letting him go to work—a skillset valued in modern offenses.

At 23.6 years old, Sinnott remains in his prime developmental window with strong athletic traits and second-round draft capital invested. The TE position notoriously takes time to develop, and a Year 3 breakout would still align with typical TE aging curves if coaching unlocks his catch-and-run skillset.

OC David Blough reportedly has a specific plan to reshape Sinnott's role, with reporting noting a 'role change gaining steam' in 2026. If Blough deploys Sinnott as a distinct move-TE in packages alongside Okonkwo, consistent 4-6 target weeks are achievable.