The UW Tight End Question Nobody's Asking: Who Replaces Moore's Mean Streak?
Quentin Moore is gone, and he's taking something with him that's way harder to replace than just a good pass catcher. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Kenmore product just wrapped up four years at Washington establishing himself as a dominant blocker first and receiver second. That backwards approach? It's exactly what the Huskies need to find next. So here's the real question: who's got the same dog in them?
The Moore Blueprint: Block First, Catch Second
Look, UW always seems to have one or two tight ends ready for the NFL. That's just what happens in Seattle. They can all catch. But the hard part, the thing that separates the elite from the rest, is finding a guy who actually wants to do the dirty work in the trenches. Moore figured it out. He came in as a physical specimen and proved he could move bodies before he ever showed his finesse game. That's rare.
History backs it up. Back in 2023, while Devin Culp was making the spectacular end-zone catch against USC, Jack Westover was doing the grunt work, leading the convoy of blockers. Cade Otton, Drew Sample, and Will Dissly all made their names as receivers first, then became effective blockers at the next level. Moore flipped the script. He proved blocking prowess could be your foundation.
The Next Guy: DeGraaf Gets the Endorsement
So who's next? Moore himself is pointing at 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior Decker DeGraaf. "They might not want me to say, but I've got to give it to Decker. That's my guy," Moore said. High praise from a guy who just lived the role. DeGraaf has already shown he's a high-level receiver after two seasons, even catching a touchdown on one of his first college plays against Weber State. Now he's got to add that mean streak.
If not DeGraaf, the Huskies are clearly investing in 6-foot-4, 250-pound freshman Baron Naone. The kid played in seven games last season with zero receptions. That wasn't by accident. Naone had one job: open holes up front. Catches would come later. That's a blocker's mentality, and that's exactly what the program demands.
The Husky Standard
Here's the reality: UW is known for supplying elite tight ends to the NFL. Every guy who comes through is expected to be well-rounded. But the ones who actually stick around at the next level? They're the ones who don't mind hitting people. They're the ones who use physicality as their calling card. That's what builds championships in college and careers in the pros. Moore showed that. Now it's on someone else to prove they've got it too.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.