When Washington selected John Bates in the 4th round of the 2021 draft, there was a bit of confusion and, maybe, a little consternation, on the part of the fanbase. The senior tight end out of Boise State had received almost no fanfare in the lead up to the draft, and, to the extent he was talked about in broader circles, it was usually as a late Day 3 pick, or perhaps even as an undrafted free agent.
For instance, NFL analyst, Lance Zierlein’s take on Bates was as follows:
In-line tight end with good size and room for more muscle mass.