15 best free agent targets for the Washington Football Team
5. TE Jonnu Smith
Here’s another tight end option for Washington, and Smith may make more sense because of his athletic skill set.
Smith’s frame is more compact than Henry’s, as he tips the scales at 248 pounds but is just 6-foot-3. But his athletic ability is crazy, and Smith can serve as a vertical threat and an elusive, fast threat with the ball in his hands.
Last year, Smith logged 41 catches and 448 yards, both of which were career highs. The more impressive part of his season though was his nine total touchdowns (eight receiving, one rushing). The Titans used him in a variety of ways in the red-zone, including on jet sweeps out of the backfield, thanks to his athleticism. He could bring that element to Washington as well.
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Imagine having Smith and Gibson line up in the backfield on the same play. One is a tight end/H-back that can make all sorts of downfield plays and can zoom past people if given space. The other would be a running back/receiver hybrid that can make a lot of noise between the tackles but is also a great pass rusher out of the backfield.
Again, if Washington is looking for creativity and versatility, Smith would make sense. He will probably come cheaper than Henry as well, as though Smith dealt with a nagging knee injury that hampered his production in the second half of last season. That could put a damper on his value even though he has been more durable than Henry.
If Washington is willing to spend up at tight end, either Henry or Smith would work. If they’re looking for another Logan Thomas All-Star, then they should probably consider the following option instead.