Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: TE T.J. Hockenson
By Ian Cummings
Should the Redskins draft T.J. Hockenson?
Still, even with Hockenson’s great allay of strengths, and with his prowess that would surely help the Redskins offense, reservations about selecting him at No. 15 come with merit. The Redskins have a number of needs that need careful attention, and the wrong investment could set them back.
But if T.J. Hockenson isn’t anything, he’s not the wrong investment. At No. 15, when absolving position, Hockenson has a case to be one of the best players available for Washington. The hardest thing about evaluating Hockenson, worded well by The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs, is finding a weakness. Hockenson could be the Redskins best all-around tight end in Week 1, and he has the receiving upside to make you wonder just how lethal a Reed-Hockenson duo could be for a year or two.
Of course, selecting Hockenson doesn’t necessarily align with the Redskins recent draft philosophy. The past four years, they’ve drafted with a heavy influence on need in Round 1, and on the surface, a tight end doesn’t fit in that category.
But lose the positions for a second. The Redskins need a blocker. The Redskins need a pass catcher. The Redskins need a playmaker. Want all three, for the price of a first-round pick? T.J. Hockenson is your guy. The buck doesn’t have to stop there. But it would be a great start.
If you want a player from a different position, that’s understandable. It is the draft, after all. There are limitless possibilities to choose from. But when considering Hockenson, look past the position, and instead look at the position the Redskins are in. Their needs extend past the bounds of position groupings. They need to add polished, ascending talent, and Hockenson fits the bill better than most.