The Washington commander badly needs an upgrade this season. The conference championship games emphasized the importance of the position, and all four teams featured elite tight ends. Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews and Sam LaPorta are arguably the best four tight ends on the planet, and Isaiah Likely has been a weapon in Andrews’ absence this season. It’s no coincidence that they all made it to the final four. If Washington wants to continue in a league dominated by inconsistencies, they will need to address the tight end heading into next season.Commander’s Tight End CorpsThe entire Commander’s tight end corps combined for 85 catches, 767 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. By comparison, Lions rookie Sam LaPorta had 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in his regular season. . Logan Thomas, 32, led the group in every statistical category, but hit a steep $8.3 million in 2024. And at just $1.75 million, it’s hard to imagine Thomas returning to D.C. for a fifth season.The rest of the depth chart is favorable and worth the investment next season. John Bates turns 27 in 2024 and has a year left on his rookie contract before he hits free agency. Bates is a quality blocker and can fill a valuable role as a backup or third-string player in most lineups. Three years younger, former 5th round draft pick Cole Turner showed flashes in the preseason but struggled to get consistent playing time. Turner still has two cheap years of managing the team and should be developed for the future with a new coaching system.Finally, Armani Rogers didn’t get a catch in 2023 and it can’t waste this season. He’ll likely be out nursing after training camp, assuming Washington brings in competition through the draft or free agency. Bates could be useful for another season and Turner looks like the backup of the future, but the team lacks a local weapon. New general manager and former college tight end Adam Peters will almost certainly turn around the tight end by 2024.Four Commanders Tight End TargetsNoah Fant, Free AgentThe Denver Broncos selected Noah Fant with the 20th overall pick. 2019 NFL Draft. After three seasons with the Broncos, two of which included 60+ receptions and 670 yards, Denver traded Fant to the Seattle Seahawks as part of a strong Russell Wilson package. Unfortunately, Seattle is probably the least favored rusher in the league. Pete Carroll’s system notoriously used at least two tight ends on the field at once, which limited the benefits of individual players.The hyper-athletic Fant is still just 26 years old and coming off his least productive statistical season, allowing the Chiefs to secure him at a discount. First-round tight ends Evan Engram, David Njoku and T.J. Hockenson came alive after signing his second contract. Fant could be next.Ja’Tavion Sanders DraftTexas Longhorns junior Ja’Tavion Sanders is currently a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Washington will likely miss the nation’s top tight end, Brock Bowers, but has two second-round picks and two third-round picks. A team will likely target an offensive weapon with one of these four options. Sanders was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and had two seasons with at least 45 receptions and 600 yards. He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash in high school and combines game-breaking speed with phenomenal ball skills. At6’4″, 256 pounds, Sanders has plenty of size, but it’s not a pattern in the running game. That’s not a problem, as he can hand the role over to John Bates and focus on the receiving game to start his career. Assuming the Commanders select a rookie quarterback with the No. 2 pick, Sanders could be the perfect addition on top.Dalton Schultz, Free AgentDrafted in the fourth round in 2018, Dalton Schultz built a career as an above-average NFL tight end. Schultz became the starter for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 and had three solid seasons last year with the Houston Texans on a one-year, $6.25 million deal. He proved his worth with his fourth straight season of 15+ games, 57+ receptions and 577+ yards. and 4+ touchdowns. He has already shown his ability to perform in multiple offensive schemes, and he is still only 27 years old.Spotrac projects his market value to receive a three-year, $34 million free agency deal this offseason, which would likely be steeper than Fant would demand. Schultz is a safer, albeit inferior, option than Fant, and could be a good way to add stability to the receiving corps.Ben Sinnott, draftKansas State junior tight end Ben Sinnott is another name to watch in April’s draft. Sinnott is an open court bowler and is one of the most complete players in his class. He is currently ranked as the 119th overall prospect by the consensus draft database and could be available to the Chiefs if they pick 100, 102 or 137. Waiting until the third day could allow Washington to build the roster around other needs while still finding good value at the narrow ends. Sinnott caught 49 balls for 676 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2023..