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John Bates is the Commanders’ tone-setter upfront
At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Bates is the kind of tight end who could have played in any era of football. He’s not flashy, and he’s not a highlight-chasing pass catcher — but if you’re building a running game from the ground up, he’s the player you want setting the edge.
Bates has developed into arguably the most underrated blocking tight end in the NFL. There’s a growing case that he belongs in the same conversation with the likes of George Kittle, the premier in-line blocker at the position. His ability to play with leverage, strike with violence, and maintain balance through contact is exceptional.
He doesn’t just occupy defenders; he eliminates them.
Turn on the film, and Bates is everywhere. One snap, he’s sealing off a 4i-tech defensive end to spring an inside zone run for Chris Rodriguez Jr. Next, he’s climbing to the second level to erase a linebacker, or driving a cornerback 10 yards downfield on an outside toss. His willingness to stick his face in the mud has made him the backbone of Washington’s offensive identity.
The Commanders’ success running behind Bates is no coincidence. On plays where he’s aligned in-line on the right side of the formation, Washington has averaged among the league’s highest yards per carry marks. He’s essentially a sixth offensive lineman on the field, but with the mobility to pull, fold, or reach depending on the call.
His versatility as a blocker allows the Commanders to use a wide range of zone and gap concepts without telegraphing their intentions.
For head coach Dan Quinn, who preaches physicality and solving problems with aggression on both sides of the ball, Bates embodies the kind of effort and toughness that sets the tone for the entire roster.
Ben Sinnott is carving out a niche for himself in Year 2
While Bates has been the steady, old-school anchor, Sinnott represents the modern complement — a younger tight end with hybrid athleticism who can move around the formation, but has embraced the dirty work with equal enthusiasm.
A second-year player out of Kansas State, Sinnott entered the league with a reputation as a flexible “F” tight end — someone who could line up in space, catch passes, and attack mismatches.
While the Commanders haven’t yet featured him heavily as a receiver, his growth as a blocker and tone-setter has been impossible to ignore.
Sinnott has been used everywhere: inline, in motion, at H-back depth, and even flexed into the slot as a lead blocker in perimeter screen looks. His ability to block in space — particularly against safeties and corners — has helped extend runs that might otherwise die at the edge.
That adaptability has allowed Washington’s run game to flourish despite personnel shifts and new names up front. Sinnott’s willingness to embrace his role has made him a key part...
