Commanders draft flop may have just rewritten his future in one game

The Washington Commanders needed someone else to step up after losing veteran tight end Zach Ertz to a season-ending torn ACL. Most fans thought this would be a perfect opportunity to see what 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott could do with more involvement.

General manager Adam Peters thought highly of Sinnott, taking him at No. 53 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has a decent college career at Kansas State, and the athletic intangibles suggested he could become a well-rounded tight end in the pros with some extra refinement.

Sinnott's been an afterthought for the best part of two years. He always makes the most of his chances, but something was keeping offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from getting him heavily involved. That had to alter in Week 15 without Ertz, which was reflected in his snap percentage surge to 56.7.

Commanders must expand Ben Sinnott's role after encouraging Week 15 performance

There was a lot to like about Sinnott's blocking on running plays. He got to the second level quickly and efficiently, plowing the lanes needed for running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt to have his best game in months. This became an undeniable positive, but Kingsbury didn't dial up any passing-game targets.

That changed late in the contest. On a 2nd-and-10 with a need to ice the game just before the two-minute warning, Sinnott's number was finally called. Play-action gave quarterback Marcus Mariota a little extra time in the pocket, and the signal-caller delivered a strike to his tight end for a 36-yard gain.

It was a fleeting contribution, but notable nonetheless. The calls to make him a more significant feature of Kingsbury's game plan are now deafening, and the Commanders have nothing to lose by placing some extra responsibilities on his shoulders over the final three games of 2025.

Ertz is likely done in Washington. John Bates remains an essential piece of the puzzle, but he's more of a blocking specialist. Colson Yankoff is probably more of a special-teams player. Hence, the investment made in Sinnott dictates a larger role in the coming weeks as part of the Commanders' ongoing roster assessments.

If it doesn't work out, the Commanders have their answer. Either Sinnott needs more time, or Peters needs to find another capable asset with long-term upside. The jury is still out, but they have to find out one way or another.

All Sinnott does is catch passes, make good blocks, and display maximum effort. It's well past time to see whether that continues in an expanded role.