An Iowa native, Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott stayed in the Midwest for his college ball, walking on to the roster as a fullback and hybrid who eventually became more of a tight end.
He redshirted in 2020 and used that time to bulk up after being only 210 pounds entering the program, and his speed hasn’t suffered for it. Sinnott earned First-Team All-Big 12 Academic honors in 2023 and was named to the First-Team All-Big 12 roster in 2022-23 from coaches and the Associated Press.
Height: 6-foot-3 7/8
Weight: 250 pounds
40 time: 4.68 seconds
On top of that, Sinnott was a 2023 John Mackey Award semifinalist for the best tight end in the nation. He was a 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl invitee.
His 2024 NFL Draft stock is somewhere between the late third round and early fifth. It likely comes down to a team with an established starter who may be facing free agency in 2025, thus giving Sinnott time to learn the nuances of the position at the pro level.
Table: TE Ben Sinnott, Kansas State (2020-23)
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
C19: player gained extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19 pandemic
Pros
- Versatility — can line up in the slot, backfield, and as a traditional Y
- Movement traits stand out on film — faster than most tight ends (top-74th percentile all-time at combine) and has plus agility
- Quick and explosive — ranks in the top-81st percentile in 10-yard split (1.59 seconds), short shuttle (4.32 seconds), and broad jump (126 inches)
- High-point ability top-99th percentile in vertical jump (40 inches)
- Major upside and untapped potential after transitioning to the position only a couple of years ago
- Has a knack for uncovering late and exploiting soft spots in zone coverage
- Reliable hands that show up in contested situations
Cons
- Lacks prototypical size to be a true inline tight end
- Average route runner, at best, and struggles to consistently make crisp breaks
- Despite being versatile in alignments, his route tree experience is rather bland
- Fails to hold up as a conventional blocker — already added 40 pounds of mass in four years at K-State, so just how much stronger can he realistically pack on without sacrificing movement?
- Short arms impact blocking and a small wingspan limits his catch radius — bottom third of all combine TEs for both measurements
- What is he in the NFL? While it’s not a bad problem to have, all it takes is one coaching staff getting too cute and derailing any continued maturation as a tight end
Fantasy football outlook
Landing in Washington, Cincinnati, or Kansas City make a lot of sense if Sinnott stays at tight end, though his landing spot is anyone’s guess at this point. He is an improbable bet for Year 1 contributions.
Sinnott’s game and physical skill set reminds strongly of former Washington tight end Chris Cooley. There’s quite a bit to work with here in terms of long-term potential, including eventual TE1 status, and he’ll be an intriguing fantasy option perhaps as soon as 2025.
