3 Commanders backups who could become starters in 2023

Cole Turner - Commanders TE

The Washington Commanders surprised some people in 2021 when they drafted Boise State’s John Bates in the fourth round. In doing so, they passed on tight ends with higher profiles like Brevin Jordan and Luke Farrell. As of now, that decision looks pretty good.

Bates has developed into a decent in-line blocker who can make the occasional play downfield. He is not even close to flashy, but that’s not what the Commanders were looking for.

Now, they could use a little flash to complement Bates. In 2021, they also passed on better receiving tight ends like Noah Gray, taken about 30 picks after Bates, and Tommy Tremble, who was available in the third round when the Commanders went with Dyami Brown.

Last year, the Commanders hoped they had found a better play-making tight end in Cole Turner. The prospect was a touchdown machine at Nevada thanks to his long frame and strong hands that made him a major red-zone threat.

He is by no means an elite athlete, but Turner did show the ability to get downfield and run after catches. He seemed like a decent player to learn from top tight end Logan Thomas and eventually take over.

That could happen as early as this season. Turner’s rookie year was a total washout due to injury. So there is still a lot of wishful thinking when considering his upside.

The season-ending injury to Armani Rogers has opened the door for Turner. Rogers looked more promising in limited work last year. But now he's out, and with Curtis Hodges looking more like an in-line option, there is no one else behind Thomas who could function as a pass-catching threat.

Thomas, like Tyler Larsen, will be 32 years at the start of the 2023 campaign. He is also coming off back-to-back seasons in which injuries severely limited his production.

Those weren’t quite as bad as Larsen’s but his long-term viability has to be a concern. Thomas, who transitioned from quarterback to tight end in the pros, was a late bloomer who had his best year in 2020. I’ve always considered him to be one of the smartest players on the field, and think he might become a very good coach after he retires.

I’d like to see him mentor Turner into eventually taking over as the team’s top pass catching tight end.

I feel a lot more confident about James Smith-Williams and Ricky Stromberg at this point. Turner is largely a blank slate. The Commanders did ink Brandon Dillon after Rogers’ injury, and there’s an outside chance that one of the taller UDFA receivers they have signed could try shifting to tight end. But those are both long shots.

Dillon caught eight passes in a ten-game XFL season this year, and none of those big receivers appear to have the necessary physicality to make the transition. The door is open for Turner, so he just has to stay healthy and push his way in.