Position Group Breakdown 2022: Tight Ends

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July 21, 2022

By Noonefromtampa

Welcome to The Hog Sty’s Position Group Vreakdown series. This week we’re going to review the Washington Commander’s tight ends group. Logan Thomas was injured last season and went down with a knee injury in week 13 last season which significantly impacted the offense allowing opposing defenses to focus more on the wide receivers.

The good news was that rookie John Bates improved a lot as the season progressed and should be poised to have an even better season in 2022.  The other major contributor at tight end, Ricky Seals-Jones, signed with the New York Giants in the offseason. Washington also spent some resources on improving this position group by drafting and signing undrafted free agents.

Washington will probably keep three tight ends on the 53 man roster and another on the practice squad.

The Starters

Logan Thomas (6’6” / 250): Thomas, the converted quarterback from Virginia Tech, has really blossomed since being signed away from Detroit.  2021 season saw Thomas dealing with injuries, including a knee injury on a needless cut block on the backside of a running play. He started and played in 6 games, catching 18 balls on 25 targets for 10.9 yard per catch and three touchdowns. Whether Thomas will be ready to go week 1 of the season remains unknown.

John Bates (6’6” / 259): Bates was drafted last year in the 4th round of the draft from Boise State. He started 8 games but played in all 17 games. Bates had 20 receptions on 25 targets, averaged 12.5 yards per catch and scored one touchdown. Bates is an excellent blocker who contributes effectively to the run game. He is the primary second tight end in “12” personnel groupings and may be the starting tight end week 1.

The Candidates

Antonio Gandy-Golden (6’4” / 223): Gandy-Golden was drafted as a wide receiver in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft from Liberty University. He has bounced on and off the roster ever since he was drafted. This year he converted to tight end during OTAs. He has the height but needs to put on weight to play the position. It will be interesting to see how he performs in training camp.

Sammis Reyes (6’5” / 260): Reyes, the first Chilean born NFL player, was signed last year as an undrafted free agent. He is known as an athletic prospect who played basketball at Loyola-New Orleans. He played primarily on special teams, seeing only 39 offensive snaps. He will have to show great improvement this year to make the 53 man roster.

Cole Turner (6’6” / 240): Turner was drafted in the 5th round of this year’s draft from Nevada. He converted from wide receiver to tight end and he caught 111 receptions for 1182 yards and 19 touchdowns in two years. Turner impressed during OTA’s and figures to be a good red zone target during the season.

Curtis Hodges (6’8” / 240): Hodges is a 2022 undrafted free agent signing from Arizona State. He is another converted wide receiver, and played 10 games where he caught 23 passes for 472 yards and three touchdowns.

Armani Rogers (6’5” / 225): Rogers played quarterback at Nevada-Las Vegas, so the undrafted free agent is another conversion project at tight end. He is the son of former NFL linebacker Sam Rogers, who played for the Bills, Chargers and Falcons from 1994 to 2003. Thomas proved to be a good conversion from quarterback to tight end, so there is hope, so there is hope for Rogers.

Conclusions

Thomas, Bates, and Turner are the three most logical players to be on the 53 man roster, with the remaining players fighting a role on the practice squad.