The tight end position for the Green Bay Packers is strong, but Ben Sinnott of Kansas State may be able to fill the role of all-around H-back in the Matt LaFleur offense.
Sinnott executed every offensive strategy for Kansas State. Sinnott played in the slot, out of the backfield, in-line as a regular tight end, and even on the boundary as a receiver in only the previous season.
Sinnott has played 1,754 snaps in his career, with the majority of those snaps coming in the last two seasons. In that span, Sinnott averaged an impressive 14.2 yards per reception and 10 touchdowns while catching 66 percent of the 119 passes that were intended for him.
Specifically for the previous season, Sinnott was tied for ninth place among all tight ends in PFF’s efficiency statistic of yards per route run and 32nd place in average yards after the catch. At tight end, he was also rated as one of PFF’s stronger run and pass blockers. He was moved around a lot by Kansas State, according to Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire. He is a flexible weapon. He is a skilled blocker who can catch passes just as well. In his run-blocking role, he can resemble a battering ram.
Kansas State used him on tight end screens because of his natural hands. If the Packers decide to select a tight end with a later pick, I really believe that Sinnott will be selected. He is a full-fledged tight end who might provide Love with another weapon and enhance their rushing onslaught. Sinnott is a superb sportsman. Standing at 6-3 and weighing 250 pounds, he achieved an almost flawless 9.72 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) at the NFL Scouting Combine. In the previous draft cycle, Tucker Kraft scored a 9.58 and Luke Musgrave a 9.78, for some background.
Executive Director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl Jim Nagy would point out that of all the tight ends at the Combine, Sinnott had the greatest vertical, longest broad jump, and fastest three-cone.
Given his versatility, Sinnott could potentially cover any position that LaFleur might require. However, in the short term, he takes over as the H-back after Josiah Deguara signs with Jacksonville, providing a more dynamic presence at the position. Although the H-back is frequently required to block, this player also needs to be able to influence the passing game, be adaptable, and be able to roam around the formation. Keeping defenders off-balance and guessing is what LaFleur refers to as the “illusion of complexity,” and this factor plays a part in it.
This player’s versatility helps to create uncertainty and mismatches that opponents can exploit, especially when there is playmaking potential at the position. It also makes it harder for opponents to get a beat on what the offense is doing prior to the snap. One player now on the Packers roster who could also play the position of H-back is Henry Pearson, a 2023 undrafted rookie who was mostly used on the practice squad during the previous season. I have also mentioned that during training camp, Tyler Davis might get some snaps in this role.
