Is Alex Smith’s supporting cast better in D.C. than it was in K.C.?
By Ian Cummings
Tight End
The Washington Redskins have a good chance at beating out the Kansas City Chiefs in this area as well. It will all come down to Jordan Reed’s health. In the last two seasons, the former third-round pick has missed fourteen games, including ten last year. It’s been years since Reed has entered a campaign fully healthy, and early in offseason workouts, he is still recuperating from the injury that ended his 2017 season.
Much like what the Washington Redskins have in Jordan Reed, the Kansas City Chiefs have an elite tight end in Travis Kelce. Kelce is the only tight end in the NFL to have recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, behind the arm of Alex Smith, Kelce reached a career high in receiving touchdowns with eight, solidifying his status as one of the league’s most dominant tight ends.
Kelce and Reed are both superb talents. While Reed makes his money with his quickness and athleticism, gaining separation over the middle and using his elusiveness to gain yards after the catch, Kelce gets by with his solid hands, his durability, and his ability to break through contact and make the most out of every catch.
When healthy, Reed could give Kelce a run for his money. But that’s the problem. Reed hasn’t shown he can stay healthy, and in the NFL, where availability is the most valuable ability for any player, Kelce trumps Reed.
Luckily for the Washington Redskins, they have a stable insurance policy for Jordan Reed, who goes by the name of Vernon Davis. Davis is still playing at a high level as he enters his twelfth year in the NFL, and although he turned 34 years old earlier this year, Davis is playing at a level similar to how he was performing in San Francisco, when Alex Smith was his quarterback so many years ago.
Despite Davis’ recent prowess, he is old, and it’s hard to rely on him as a No. 1 option. The Washington Redskins need Jordan Reed to be healthy for their tight end core to be complete. Jeremy Sprinkle has the potential to take a leap, but he won’t come anywhere near even Davis’ line of production in a reasonable prediction.
Jordan Reed isn’t back on the field yet, and until he gets back, and stays back, it’s hard to commit to a deeper unit led by him over an All-Pro player in Travis Kelce. Kelce didn’t have any proven options behind him last year; Demetrius Harris was solid at times, but inconsistent. Nevertheless, Kelce, on his own, is more valuable than a tight end core with a 34-year old Davis as the spot starter while Jordan Reed heals. That’s not a slight to Davis. Both tight end groups are strong, and Alex Smith shouldn’t have any trouble in Washington. But if Jordan Reed can’t make himself available, then that will limit Smith, to some extent. It’s that constraint that gives Kansas City the edge.