CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals are 5 for 5 on drafting players they brought in for Top 30 visits after selecting Iowa tight end Erick All in the fourth round with Pick 115.
The local product (Fairfield High School) played four seasons at Michigan, where he was a team captain in 2022 but suffered a season-ending back injury three weeks into the season.
All transferred to Iowa in 2023 after a contentious split from the Wolverines regarding the evaluation of his back injury, but he suffered a torn ACL in October.
Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said the Bengals aren’t viewing All as a rookie redshirt candidate, and All said his knee is “great.”
Cincinnati Bengals Draft Erick All With Fourth-Round Pick
The Basics
Position: Tight end
School: Iowa
Age: 23 (Sept. 13, 2000)
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 252 pounds
Current Year: Fifth-year senior
PFN Big Board Ranking: 142
The Fit
All instantly becomes the most well-rounded tight end on the roster, if healthy. Drew Sample is primarily a blocker and Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson are better receivers but don’t offer much in the run game.
All was working out on the field at his alma mater when Bengals head coach Zac Taylor called to say the team was drafting him. All said there are no issues with the back and the knee is “great” and will be ready for training camp.
He played 67% of his snaps inline and 33% in the slot in 2023 at Iowa. His splits were similar during his four years at Michigan, with 70% inline and 30% in the slot.
"You ready to come home?" @eallindi83 gets THE CALL!@IEL_LLC | 📺: NFL Draft on ESPN/ABC/NFLN pic.twitter.com/bWDMKrbDLK
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 27, 2024
What They Said
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher on what All brings to the team:
“He has a very well-rounded skill set — size, athleticism, contributor in both the pass game and run game. He’s physical. We think he can be an all-around tight end that can help us in all phases. We want guys that can run and catch. That is a major way for that position to impact the game, and he falls in that.”
All on how hard it’s been to deal with the injuries:
“It’s not hard at all. If you love the game, it makes it easy for you. The only hard part about it is not being out there with your teammates and playing and winning. But as far as me and my knee, that’s nothing. Just get through it and get back on the field and do what I do best.”
All on catching passes for Joe Burrow:
“It’s just crazy. I remember watching him at LSU just doing his thing. He sets the standard for the quarterbacks in the league. He’s just a dawg. It’s gonna be crazy catching the ball from him. We’re gonna get a Super Bowl out of this. We are.”
PFN’s Grade
C+
Ian Cummings: “The Hawkeyes have an impressive track record of putting productive tight ends into the league in recent years. But after suffering a torn ACL in 2023 and a back injury that cost him time in 2022, his durability concerns entering the league make this pick suspect with FSU’s Jaheim Bell still on the board.”
KEEP READING: Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft Grades 2024
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