An NFL player's development is not linear. Some take longer than others, but for Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott, it's now or never.
Former Washington legend Brian Mitchell echoed these sentiments. The Commanders have been lenient up to now, but if his development is pushed into Year 4 or even Year 5, the Super Bowl champion conceded it'll be time for general manager Adam Peters to cut this experiment short.
"After Year 3, for sure, is when I would be like, you've got to move on. Some guys take three years before they really catch on. And I know when a guy gets drafted, first year, we expect them to be doing something.
"It sometimes takes one or two. Some guys push it to three. You start pushing out to four or five, and we've got to go get somebody else now. We need some fresh bodies to come in at that point."
A fresh body has already arrived, too.
Commanders have not waited around for Ben Sinnott, and he must keep up with the pace
The Commanders weren't going to wait around on the off chance Sinnott took a seismic leap under new offensive coordinator David Blough. Peters struck quickly to sign Chig Okonkwo in free agency, who instantly goes to the top of Washington's tight end food chain. With John Bates also on hand to provide outstanding blocking, it'll be fascinating to see how the 2024 second-round pick responds.
Sinnott is not a rookie anymore. This is his third season, which is typically when teams find out just what a player is made of. Unless the Kansas State product demonstrates growth and becomes more influential, he'll have a very shaky future to navigate this time next year.
Blough has been experimenting with Sinnott's usage this offseason. He's been in-line, out wide, in motion, and even operated as an H-back. Versatility might be the key to more playing time, and when chances to block or catch passes arrive, he cannot put a foot wrong.
It's something he accomplished effectively enough in college. The Commanders thought Sinnott could take this into the pros, spending the No. 53 overall selection to secure his services. They have not gotten much return on their investment as yet, but as Mitchell said, it takes some players longer to truly find their feet.
Tight end is among the hardest positions to transition. You have to know the blocking concepts. You have to know the different audibles and be well-versed in the quarterback cadences. You also have to know the routes at all times. It's not a plug-and-play situation for the large majority.
Sinnott no longer has that luxury. This is his time to put up or shut up. And if he can't deliver, the Commanders will find someone who can.
It's that simple.
Add us as a preferred source on Google