Name: Ben Sinnott

School: Kansas State

Year: Senior

Position: Tight End

Measurables: 6’4”, 250 lb (Combine measurements)

Combine: ARM: 32 ⅜”. HAND: 9 ½”. VERTICAL: 40”. BROAD: 10’6”. 40-YD DASH: 4.68. 10-YD SPLIT: 1.59. THREE-CONE: 6.82. 20-YD SHUTTLE: 4.23

Stats:

Stats courtesy of Sports-reference.com

General Info:

Sinnott grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and attended Waterloo Columbus High School. Sinnott was not heavily recruited coming out of high school after being named to the state’s All-State team as a tight end, wide receiver, and defensive end in 2019. He received one Division I offer–from South Dakota–but chose to walk-on at Kansas State instead.

Sinnott did not see any game action as a freshman in 2020. After missing the first game of 2021 recovering from an injury, Sinnott saw action in the final 12 games of the season, starting in two games (against Oklahoma and in their bowl game against LSU). He had two catches for 15 yards and three carries for 12 yards and a touchdown, mostly providing value on the field as a run blocker.

Sinnott became the starter in 2022, starting all 14 games for the Wildcats. He caught 31 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns and was named first-team all-Big 12 by the coaches. His versatility began to shine in 2021, as he displayed prowess as a receiver and blocking ability in the running game. He lined up 97 in the backfield as a fullback, 548 snaps inline as a tight end, and 164 times in the slot. He was part of a run-heavy Kansas State team that rushed for 208.3 yards per game (15th-most in the country).

Sinnott earned a scholarship in 2023 and continued to elevate his play. Sinnott had 49 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns, being named first-team all-Big 12 (coaches, AP) as a fullback, and honorable mention All-American (Phil Steele). He was also a semifinalist for the Mackey Award. Sinnott continued to line up all over the field, tallying 91 snaps in the backfield (fullback), 483 snaps inline, 168 snaps in the slot, and 26 snaps at receiver.

Sinnott was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine Bowl, and the NFL Combine. Sinnott was a winner at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. He “wowed” coaches with his position versatility and good hands at the Senior Bowl. Sinnott was one of the top performers at the combine, finishing with the top vertical for tight ends (40”), the top three-cone time for a tight end (6.82), and top broad jump for a tight end (10’6”). His vertical jump was tied for the sixth-best ever for a tight end at the combine, and tied for second-best ever for a tight end over 250 pounds, only behind Vernon Davis’ 42” in 2006. His RAS is 9.75.

Sinnott will turn 22 in June.

Positional Skills:

Strengths

Versatility and athleticism are Sinnott’s calling cards, with his ability to line up inline as a blocking and receiving option, and also with his ability to line up in the backfield as a lead blocker. As mentioned earlier, Sinnott lined up in multiple positions while at K-State. With his size, he can be a lead blocker as a fullback. With his athleticism, he can be put in motion out of the backfield or as a receiver. He is a very large Swiss-army knife.

Sinnott is a very strong and willing blocker; he is not afraid to engage any player, no matter the size. He is a mauler in the running game as a blocker, using his quickness to gain speed and punish waiting defenders. He rarely whiffs on blocking assignments, and stays with his block until the whistle. Many defenders ended up on their backsides after going up against Sinnott. Per PFF, he was the third-best run-blocking right end in 2023 (min. 225 snaps).

Sinnott is very good with the ball in his hands and after the catch. His agility testing at the combine backs this up, as he is very elusive for a player his size. He routinely shakes would-be tacklers with his spin moves and leaping ability, and also with his strength. He has very good balance when initially hit, allowing for many more broken tackle opportunities. He forced 14 missed tackles in 2023, third-best amongst draft-eligible tight ends.

Sinnott has very strong hands at the catch point. He has an extensive route tree due to his lining up all over the field. He will go over the middle, take a screen behind the line of scrimmage, out-routes, crossing routes…you name it, he’s likely run it. He had the second-highest PFF receiving grade amongst draft-eligible tight ends (81), only behind likely first-round pick Brock Bowers.

See his film from 2023 against Missouri. He makes a one-handed catch over the middle, then leaps over a defender attempting a tackle, maintains his balance, spins out of the tackle of another defender, and rumbles down the sideline with three defenders on his back. A tough player making tough catches.      

Weaknesses

Sinnott had one fumble and eight dropped passes in his career: two in 2021, four in 2022, and two in 2023. Although those aren’t eye-poppingly high numbers, and in reality everybody would love for that number to be zero (which is usually unrealistic), it’s still worth noting. His drops seem to be focus drops, and usually a result of not turning to the ball in time. For as strong as his hands are, he’s not quick with them all the time.

Kansas State quarterbacks threw three interceptions when targeting Sinnott in 2023. One was against Missouri, and Sinnott doesn’t even realize the ball is thrown his way. The QB was throwing to a spot, and Sinnott wasn’t there. Matt LaFluer preaches “the little things”, and knowing where you are supposed to be is one of those little things. It could have just been a miscommunication, but knowledge of the playbook must be achieved if you want to make it in the NFL.

For as good as he is at blocking, Sinnott can oftentimes be too upright when he is blocking. He needs to learn better technique in the NFL, as players will be faster and stronger. He has the traits to develop into a more refined blocker, but it may take time.

He may have an extensive route tree, but his route running is fairly average. He seems to get open more on play call and scheme than doing it with his own footwork. He tends to round off a lot of his routes.

Fit with the Packers:

Sinnott could be the folk hero-type player that Packer fans seem to gravitate to. Watch his tape from his final collegiate game, against Iowa State in a snowstorm. It was one of the best games of his career, and the type of game that makes a fan love this guy. His game is reminiscent of the old-school, hit-you-in-the-mouth players, back when more fullbacks roamed the Earth. Sinnott is not going to be William Henderson, but could easily be a more modern variety of fullback.

Green Bay used two draft picks on tight ends in 2022, selecting Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft; they are locks for a roster spot. They signed Ben Sims–another rookie–right before the season started after he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings. He played well and is likely safe to make the team. Tyler Davis had a season-ending injury before the season, after coaches thought he could be a key rotational player headed into the year. His roster spot is likely in jeopardy.

Green Bay’s fourth tight end in 2023, Josiah Deguara, is gone. His spot on the roster could likely be replaced, especially with how LaFluer loved to use Deguara in the fullback, or H-back, role. One in-house candidate could include AJ Dillon, but Dillon’s receiving prowess isn’t the greatest. And he has no experience lining up inline. One could argue Sinnott’s rushing ability isn’t the greatest, but the days of fullbacks carrying the ball are less and less.

By drafting Sinnott, it would seem he would be headed for the role Deguara filled last year. Sinnott seems to have a higher football IQ than Deguara at this point, but would need some coaching in areas to become a complete player. He’s not fully a developmental project, but he wouldn’t have to be “the guy” on day one. Green Bay as a franchise tends to do this with many of their draft picks, regardless of round: the draft-and-develop method.

Musgrave had a serious injury in 2023 that kept him out of some games, and Kraft filled in admirably. Sims played well when called upon, but the Packers are an injury away from being thin at tight end. No, they won’t go up to snag Brock Bowers (although if he fell to pick 25 I think they would strongly consider taking him), and I don’t think they need Bowers.

So why not go grab the next best thing: one of the most athletic tight ends in this class (one they don’t have to spend a premium pick on) that they could develop, while still using in certain offensive packages this year? I’ve seen Sinnott’s draft projections all over the board, from late second round to the fourth round. I believe Sinnott goes late in the third round, right around pick 91. (Hmmm…)

As we all know, Gutey seems to love particular attributes in many of his draft picks: athleticism/high RAS, versatility, production, Senior Bowl attendees/stand-outs, players that have “their best football still ahead of them.” Ben Sinnott checks all those boxes. He grew up in the Midwest and he went to college in the Midwest. Why not get picked by the Packers and spend his NFL days in the Midwest, too?  

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