Washington release Marcus Baugh to continue revamp at tight end

The Washington Football Team announced Monday they have released tight end Marcus Baugh. Baugh’s release stamps a complete overhaul at the position behind starter Logan Thomas as the team searches for a suitable TE2.

Baugh played in eight games. He played 79 offensive snaps and 28 on special teams. He had one catch for two yards.

As Thomas proved to be a stud pickup last season, Washington didn’t have much success finding any options behind him. That included Jeremy Sprinkle, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.

With Thomas cemented as the TE1, Washington signed Sammis Reyes early this spring. Reyes is a former basketball player, playing collegiality at Tulane. Now he is made the switch to football is hopes of being the next basketball player-turned-tight end success in the NFL. It’s too early to tell if he is the next Jimmy Graham or Antonio Gates, but his freakish athleticism shows he has a great deal of potential.

Washington also drafted John Bates in the fourth round in this year’s NFL Draft out of Boise State. Early projections push him as the lead blocking tight end but his hands leave the door open into him developing into an option in the passing game.

Last week, Washington signed Deon Yelder. Yelder spent three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, mostly on special teams. Snap opportunity were slim playing behind All-Pro Travis Kelce. Now, the former Western Kentucky product gets a chance to prove he is more than a special team player.

Baugh signed with Washington last year as a developmental project. He had some familiarity to Washington head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner having played a season under the coaching staff while with the Carolina Panthers.

Baugh did burst out causing the team to release him in October to make room for Tammerick Hemingway, who remains on the team. However, Baugh was signed back to the practice squad where he stayed until he was promoted to the active roster in December after Hemingway was placed on injured reserve.

With the additions of Reyes, Bates and Yelder, Washington felt they have enough options to move on from Baugh.