Report: Former Bengals OT turned TE, Jake Fisher, to work out for Redskins

The Washington Redskins are giving a player changing positions a chance to prove himself. According to a report, they are working out newly-minted tight end Jake Fisher.

When Jake Fisher was drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals, the team was hoping that he would develop into a quality starting tackle for the squad. Paired with first-round pick Cedric Ogbuehi, the Bengals anticipated that they had their offensive tackle situation figured out for years to come.

Well, that didn’t exactly work out. Ogbuehi didn’t end up panning out, and he suited up in just two games last season. Meanwhile, Fisher was unable to cut it as a tackle. He played a little at tight end for the team, but he mostly stuck to the offensive line, but he struggled to stay healthy and couldn’t put on enough weight and strength to be effective.

This offseason, Fisher, 26 in April, is making the switch to being a full-time tight end. He’s hoping this will be his position at the NFL level. And according to ESPN’s John Keim, the Redskins are going to have a chance to prove himself in a workout on Thursday.

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Working out Fisher is certainly worthwhile, and bringing him onto the roster as a competitor could be interesting. Even if he might be a little bit of a project, it could be a gamble worth taking for the ‘Skins.

Right now, the Redskins have a solid tight end depth chart. Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis are capable pass catchers and Jeremy Sprinkle proved to be a good blocker last year. That said, Reed has been injury prone while Davis is now 35 years old. So, the team could stand to add some youth and depth to ensure they will have quality options at the position.

At the least, Fisher should be a solid blocking tight end. So, adding him on a short-term, cheap deal could be beneficial. It would be a nice upside-based move, and if he proves himself, he could stay on the roster. If he struggles, he could be cut.

Of course, it’s worth noting that the 2019 NFL Draft class has some really great players at the tight end position, so the team will have to be wary of spending too many free agent resources on the position. If they want a true impact player for the future, acquiring a player via the draft would be the smart move.

Adding Fisher could be decent, and we’ll see exactly what the Redskins think of him after his workout on Thursday. If he impresses, expect the team to give him a shot on a “prove it” deal.