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Options for the Redskins at tight end for 2020 and beyond

By Ken Johannesen

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores on a six yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 13: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores on a six yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 13: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores on a six yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 13: Tight end Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores on a six yard touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Falcons 34-33. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Free Agency

Free agency should never be considered as the primary remedy for quick fixes, but that is exactly how the front office should view this exercise in roster re-building.

The Redskins should have an ample amount of cap space for 2020 and adding quality free agents is really not an issue. However, the number of quality tight ends available when free agency opens in March could be limited.

The NFL draft is another avenue the front office should utilize if they want to add such talent. A quick look at scouting sites and services will tell you that the tight end talent pool is not that deep, but there are some prospects and hidden gems.

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For now, the best free agent tight end will be Austin Hooper of the Atlanta Falcons.  Despite missing time recently due to an MCL sprain, Hooper is having a solid season and should return to the lineup soon.

Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers is something of a lesser version of Hooper, but is still a good option.  He suffered a tibial plateau injury earlier in the season, but has returned to post respectable numbers.

The Redskins can’t take on injury-prone projects and the Hooper injury should be scrutinized, but he doesn’t have an extensive history of missing games.  Henry’s recent history is something of a red flag, but he played close to a full schedule in 2016 and 2017.  He missed four games earlier this season, but has played in each game since week six.

Eric Ebron of the Indianapolis Colts is another potential target if the Redskins want to spend a bit less in free agency.  If they want to be frugal and still get some talent, Blake Jarwin of the Dallas Cowboys and Jacob Hollister of the Seattle Seahawks are two tight ends that seem to improve each year.  Both of these players are capable of taking the next steps to be solid tight ends in the NFL.

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