5 TEs Hurt By the Draft

Photo: Charles LeClaire, USA Today Sports

The NFL Draft can have a big impact on player value. Below are five tight ends who were hurt by the draft.

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Dawson Knox, Buffalo

Dawson Knox signed a four-year 52-million-dollar contract in 2022, with almost 20 million dollars guaranteed, but that did not stop Buffalo from selecting Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Kincaid is a more dangerous receiving threat than Knox, while Knox does not thrive as a pure in-line tight end to play in 2TE formations. Rookie tghts ends are historically slow starters, so Knox could carve out a near-term role. That could help his market if he is cut or enters free agency in the future.

Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh

Darnell Washington was rumored to be a potential first-round selection in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. Instead, he fell to the third round and ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington played a secondary role in the Georgia offense behind Brock Bowers and projects similarly in Pittsburgh’s offense behind Pat Freiermuth Washington’s role as an inline tight end. Washington's strength as a blocker could cut into Freiermuth’s snap share in the offense. During the 2022 season, Freiermuth saw a decline in snaps after a high-level start and did not play 75% of the team’s snaps from Week 4 through Week 15. Washington’s presence is likely to limit Freiermuth’s snap and route participation, lowering his ceiling in 2023.