The Washington Football Team is entering their first year with Ron Rivera at the helm and it will take some time for him to shape the roster to his liking. According to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, Rivera is eager to find a versatile tight end in the offense.
Ron Rivera said they're looking for a complete TE, a la Vernon Davis and Greg Olsen, as opposed to primarily a pass-catcher or blocking TE. "Do we have that? Maybe. Logan Thomas has done a great job. … I like the direction he's headed."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 3, 2020
During his tenure with the Carolina Panthers, Rivera had Greg Olsen on which to rely at the tight end position. Olsen was capable of blocking in the run game and was a viable receiving threat all over the field. Not to mention, he was an outstanding leader on and off of the field.
Earlier this offseason, Washington released Jordan Reed due to injury concerns throughout his career. Reed would proceed to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, reuniting him with Kyle Shanahan.
Following Reed's release, that left Rivera with an unproven group of tight ends that includes Richard Rodgers, Jeremy Sprinkle, and Logan Thomas. Of the tight ends on the current roster, Thomas seems to be catching the attention of Rivera thus far.
Thomas is far from being a young player in the league as he's been in the NFL since 2014. However, Thomas has started in only eight games in his six seasons in the NFL. Just a year ago, he hauled in a career-high 16 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown in his lone season with the Detroit Lions following only 26 combined appearances for the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals.
With Dwayne Haskins being named the starting quarterback, Rivera wants to put him in the best position to succeed. Seeing that Washington is shorthanded at wide receiver due to injuries, Rivera would like to see Thomas or another tight end on the roster become a reliable option in the offense. If not, Washington may be in the market for a tight end soon.
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