Redskins could target tight end later in draft

Even after the first wave of free agency, tight end still appears to be a major need for the Washington Redskins.

But if the Redskins address the position in the draft, it could come later.

106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen tweeted the Redskins aren’t expected to use their third-round pick on a tight end, citing pre-draft conversations with league insiders.

“Obviously the way the board falls will determine what they do, but they’re expecting the value at TE to come later than pick 66,” Paulsen wrote.

That tracks with what coach Ron Rivera has said publicly. Two weeks ago when asked by a reporter about drafting a tight end, Rivera said he liked what the team had done in free agency.

In March, the Redskins signed Logan Thomas and Richard Rodgers, two veterans who haven’t had consistent production but have shown flashes. 

“It is a position we like,” Rivera said. “Can we target them? Yeah we could, but we also feel that there are some other positions in this draft that are available that would really fit some needs for us as well. Again, all options are open to us when it comes to each of those rounds that we’re picking in.”

The Redskins don’t have a second-round pick this year as they traded it away last year when moving up into the first round to grab pass-rusher Montez Sweat. 

Besides tight end, the Redskins figure to need additional help at wide receiver, cornerback and tackle. This year’s class of receivers, in particular, has been hailed as deep — with NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah projecting 27 wideouts to be taken within the first three rounds.  

The tight end class, by comparison, isn’t seen to be nearly as strong. Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet is regarded as the top choice and carries a second-or-third-round grade, while Dayton’s Adam Trautman, LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, Missouri’s Albert Okwuegbunam and Washington’s Hunter Bryant are other notable mid-round possibilities. 

Based on everything I’ve heard, don’t bank on the #Redskins targeting the TE position in the 3rd round. Obviously the way the board falls will determine what they do, but they’re expecting the value at TE to come later than pick 66.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) April 21, 2020