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Top five tight ends for Redskins to target in 2020 free agency

By Jacob Camenker

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 12: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 12: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 22: Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 22: Blake Jarwin #89 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 22, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

. Tight End. Dallas Cowboys. Blake Jarwin. 5. player. 123

If the Redskins are looking to add a cheap depth option at the tight end position who could outplay his contract, Blake Jarwin would fit the bill. The 26-year-old free agent has been with the Dallas Cowboys since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State. And quietly, he has had a couple of solid seasons.

The Cowboys haven’t been willing to use Jarwin as a starter over the course of the past couple of years, but he has played a role on offense. In 2019, he caught 31 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns despite largely playing second fiddle to Jason Witten.

While Witten played 75.4 percent of the Cowboys snaps, Jarwin played just 38.7 percent. Despite this, Jarwin was still very productive and averaged a solid 11.8 yards per catch. The 6-foot-5 target has a nice frame but is also athletic enough to beat defenders and get into open space. That could afford him the opportunity to be a low-end starter or a top receiving backup.

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Jarwin still has room for growth as a blocker but given that he doesn’t turn 26 until July, there’s plenty of time for him to improve in that area. And at the very least, he is a proven solid backup who can work as a very good middle of the field target.

For the Redskins, Jarwin would represent an upgrade over the Jeremy Sprinkle/Hale Hentges duo that started for most of last season. He would also be a lower-cost alternative to the other tight ends on the market yet could put up better numbers if given a chance to operate in a starting role.

It also would help Jarwin’s cause that the Redskins would be poaching one of the Cowboys’ top tight end targets in a year where they may be cap-strapped in trying to keep all their pieces. So, that would make a lower-cost signing like this more appealing.

In all likelihood, it seems that Jarwin would get a deal that would pay him between $4 and $5 million annually, as Jeff Heuerman, a potential-packed young tight end got a $4 million per year deal from the Denver Broncos that was just 25 percent guaranteed. That seems like the right price for Jarwin as an upside signing, and it’s one that the Redskins could surely explore making.

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