CINCINNATI — There have been 71 tight ends drafted since the Cincinnati Bengals selected Drew Sample in the second round in 2019, with 31 of 32 NFL teams drafting at least one.
The team that hasn’t? The Bengals.
In fact, 23 of the other 31 teams have drafted multiple tight ends in that span.
The Bengals could not be any more obvious about their philosophy on tight ends. It simply is not a premium position, and no one should expect it to be in play when Cincinnati goes on the clock at No. 18 in this year’s draft.
Early-Round Tight End Targets for the Bengals
That said, the Bengals have three picks on Day 2, and finding a longer-term tight end capable of blocking like Sample, who signed a three-year extension last month, and putting up receiving numbers like Tanner Hudson — or Hayden Hurst or C.J. Uzomah before him — could be in play.
But offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and wide receiver feel like locks to be three of the team’s first four picks, regardless of order, so several names on the list below could be off the board by the time Cincinnati gets to its third-round comp pick — No. 97 — from the loss of Jessie Bates III in 2023.
Before we dive into the top prospects at tight end, here are the previous lists of early-round targets for the Bengals.
If the Bengals break their trend and target a tight end early, here are some of the top options, with insight from Pro Football Network Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.
Brock Bowers, Georgia
He’s the consensus No. 1 tight end in this year’s draft, and it’s not even close.
The odds of Bowers still being available when the Bengals pick at No. 18 are small. The odds of the Bengals actually selecting him there might be smaller.
The Bengals simply don’t view it as a position of value, and therefore, using a premium mid-first-round pick on a tight end won’t be in their plans this year or for the foreseeable future.
Cummings: “Some prospects make evaluations easy, and Bowers is one who does that. From the very start of his collegiate career, he proved himself to be a cut above the average player. His constant production emphasizes that, and his tape only confirms his rare ability.
“Bowers is around average size (6’4”, 240 pounds) for a traditional tight end, but that’s one of the only knocks on his profile. With Bowers, don’t get hung up on the positional designation. He’s not just a tight end. He’s a weapon — and his ability to separate, be utilized in dozens of ways, and tear apart defensive looks within the three-level framework will make him a true offensive focal point.
“The 6’4”, 254-pounder was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school, but he could be the second tight end selected in this year’s draft after an impressive week at the Senior Bowl.”
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
A converted fullback, Sinnott averaged 14 yards per reception in his two seasons as a tight end for the Wildcats, hauling in 80 catches for 1,323 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Cummings: “Sinnott’s profile is one of the most well-rounded at TE in recent memory, and that includes previous drafts. He might not be quantifiably elite in any one area, but he’s a smooth and energetic athlete with good explosiveness and speed, a nuanced route runner with a vast route tree, and a capable hands-catcher with sharp instincts.
“What separates Sinnott from the rest of the 2024 NFL Draft TE class, however, is his complete, all-encompassing usage versatility. He can line up in-line, in the slot, in stacked alignments, and at H-back in the backfield.”
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
He broke the Texas tight end receiving record in 2023 with 682 yards and two touchdowns on 45 receptions despite the production of wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.
Sanders (6’4”, 245 pounds) continued to impress at the NFL Combine, running a 4.69-second 40-yard dash, including a 1.6-second 10-yard split that ranked him in the 91st percentile.
Cummings: “Sanders is a notable size-speed athlete with great burst and agility, and he compounds those traits with good play strength, physicality, and contact balance in multiple phases.
“Sanders’ best plays come when he’s able to attack up the seam. He has the necessary zone awareness to bend out of breaks and find space, and when the ball comes his way, he can snare it with sharp focus, smooth body control, and incredibly strong, authoritative hands.”
Jared Wiley, TCU
After catching just 19 passes in three seasons at Texas, where he was a teammate of Sanders’ in 2021, Wiley transferred to TCU.
He had a modest season for the national runners-up in 2022, catching 24 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns before doubling his stats in 2023.
Wiley (6’6”, 250 pounds) had 47 receptions for 520 yards and eight touchdowns as a fifth-year senior. The eight scores were tied with Oregon State’s Jack Velling for the most in the country among tight ends.
His profile suggests a longer-term version of new Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki.
KEEP READING: Top TEs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Cummings: “Wiley is an intriguing prospect who is probably best suited for pass-catching duties as a big slot option. He has some of the physical tools to flow seamlessly into his routes and could contribute in some 12-personnel groupings early in his career.
“His play strength and impact as a blocker are questionable. That could make it difficult for him to get on the field if he can’t be trusted as an extension of the offensive line in pass protection or rushing concepts that pit him against NFL edge rushers.
“Some of his run-blocking reps as an in-line tight end prospect give me cause for concern projecting his effectiveness as a run blocker in the league.”
Cade Stover, Ohio State
A fringe option to be a top-100 pick, Stover caught 41 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns for the Buckeyes in 2023.
Cummings: “There are a few factors that may lower Stover’s maximum range in the draft, but he’s a safe bet to be a Day 2 or middle-round pick.
“Stover has the size, play strength, and passable athleticism to be a quality NFL tight end. And he has two of the most important operational traits for a tight end to have: elite catching instincts and elite hands.”
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