Breaking down the Washington Football Team’s position battles: Tight End

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Logan Thomas #82 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Logan Thomas #82 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Logan Thomas #82 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 08: Tight end Logan Thomas #82 of the Detroit Lions warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

Current Favorite: Logan Thomas

Last year was the best season of Logan Thomas‘ career. In 16 games with the Detroit Lions, Thomas totaled 16 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown.

Those numbers aren’t exactly impressive. But that’s why numbers are only part of the equation when evaluating football players.

Thomas wasn’t a full-time starter for Detroit last year. He was behind T.J. Hockenson and Jesse James in the pecking order, so he only played in 31 percent of the snaps. And he only played that much because Hockenson missed four games as a rookie. Had Hockenson been healthy, Thomas would’ve stayed buried on the bench.

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In those limited snaps, Thomas was solid. He showed off decent receiving ability and provided good punch as a run blocker. And though he’s 29, he still has more upside at the position than some may think.

Thomas is a great athlete. He has a well-built 6-foot-6, 250-pound frame and is still relatively new to the tight end position. During his college days at Virginia Tech, he was a quarterback. The Arizona Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft in hopes of developing him at the position.

After flopping as a passer, Thomas eventually moved back to tight end and saw his first NFL action at the position in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills. Now with three NFL seasons at the position under his belt, he should continue to grow moving forward.

There’s no guarantee that Thomas will pan out for Washington. But if he plays double the snaps he did last year, a distinct possibility considering the other options Washington has at the position, he could post another career year. And if he grows more and taps into his excellent athletic ability, he should be a fine starter for the team.

At this point, Thomas is arguably the most proven player Washington has at the position and still possesses upside. That’s why he comes in as the starter just a few weeks ahead of the season.