Although Mike Gesicki signed a one-year contract, the Cincinnati Bengals have stated that they would like to move past the rent-a-tight end situation. As a result, they may need to select a tight end in the draft to fill the position permanently.
Although Brock Bowers garners most of the attention, there are several skilled candidates for the role.
These ten tight ends, who aren’t Bowers, are my top picks.
1. Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott
6’3″ and 250 lbs.
Sinnott, 21, is a man with a noticeable chip on his shoulder. There have always been those who question the former walk-on. He may appear a little thin, but he’s a vicious blocker. He doesn’t have the pure breakaway speed, but he still makes a lot of plays while distributing the ball. Sinnott has a knack for settling into a zone and dependable hands. Although he can line up as a slot or as an attached tight end, his primary position is H-back. The Bengals are going to adore his run/pass flexibility and toughness.
2. Texas native Ja’Tavion Sanders, 6’3″ and 245 lbs.
twenty years old
Why Sanders is viewed as a poor blocker is beyond me. It is untrue. He’s a large, strong person who can do the job and isn’t afraid to stick his nose in it. The passing game also reveals his physicality. He possesses the strength to run past tackles in addition to the speed to elude defenders who are pursuing him. He makes some difficult catches and has the potential to be a major asset to the Bengals offense.
3. Iowan Erick All, 6’5″, 249 lbs.
23 years old
All chose to transfer to Tight End U after spending four years at Michigan. Before suffering an early ACL injury that ended his time with the Hawkeyes, All was having a fantastic season. Everything is included in the bundle. He is nimble enough to win in man coverage and deft enough to find openings in the zone. He makes excellent adjustments and is sure-handed. In addition, he physically blocks things. All might be the all-around tight end the Bengals have been searching for ever since… Bob the Trump?
4. Texas Christian Jared Wiley, 6’6″ and 249 lbs.
Wiley, who is 23 years old, is an extremely astute route runner who spots openings in the zone. Defenses have no idea how to match up with him because of his stature and quickness. With speed and physicality, he can convert a short pass into a significant gain once he has possession of the ball. Regardless matter where the pass is thrown, Wiley can adjust to haul it in with ease thanks to his incredibly natural hands. With the Bengals offense, Wiley would produce some incredible plays.
5. Florida State’s Jaheim Bell, 6’2″ and 241 pounds.
22 years of age
Although Bell’s impressive one-handed leap at the NFL Combine received a lot of attention, I don’t even think it was his finest catch of the day (see the video below). Bell adjusts incredibly well to catch off-target passes. Bell shows off his outstanding speed and vicious stiff arm after the catch, gaining extra yardage. Bell is a mobile, adaptable tight end who performs best in the slot or from the h-back position. He would be a great fit for the Bengals’ passing scheme.
Penn State’s Theo Johnson
6’6″ and 259 pounds.
23 years old
Johnson’s skill set might appear a little dated, but it’s crucial to keep in mind that Gesicki is only signed for a single season. Similar to his fellow ex-Nittany Lion, Johnson stands 6’6″ and has a 40-yard sprint time of 4.5. Similar in nature to Gesicki, Johnson is a threat in the passing game. Because of his quickness, he might be a valuable asset to Joe Burrow in the seam. Johnson, though, is more than simply a glorified receiver, in contrast to Gesicki. He is able to block well by lining up in line.
7. Ohio State’s Cade Stover
6’4″, 247 lbs.
Stover, a 23-year-old tight end, may not be the most intriguing prospect on the list, but he is capable of doing almost anything you would ask of one. Despite having spent a lot of time in the slot, he may line up attached. He is a reliable defender. Although he doesn’t have great speed, his physical running style makes for some solid gains following the catch. The Bengals have used tight ends with very narrow skill sets in the past, but Stover offers you a little bit of everything, which keeps you offensively unpredictable.
8. Colorado State’s Dallin Holker
6’3″ and 241 pounds.
The NFL Combine Ball-on-a-Stick award went to 23-year-old Holker this year. I made that up to honor someone or something Rich Eisen won’t stop talking about. Yes, it was fairly spectacular when Holker collected two balls with one hand during the gauntlet drill, but there was more to it than that. On film, Holker also makes some incredible catches. Though he is more of a large receiver than a true tight end, he can still make some impressive plays and would be a fantastic addition to an offense under Burrow’s direction.
Michigan’s A.J. Barner, ninth
6’6″ and 251 pounds.
twenty-one years old
Not like a lot of other tight ends in this draft group. There is no “willing blocker” in Barner. At the tight end, he is a glass eater. He blocks runs well and finishes blocks with a positive demeanor. He can make an impact in the passing game because of his athleticism. He is a big target because to his 6’6″ frame, and he has shown that he can box out opponents with his body. He has steady hands and good ball tracking. Barner would be more of a move-the-chains pass-catcher than a stretch-the-field type, which would be very helpful in the run game.
10. Illinois native Tip Reiman, 6’5″, 271 lbs.
22 years of age
Reiman is a reliable blocker whether it’s a pass or a run. Even though he is smaller than a receiver (271), he is surprisingly nonetheless quick. He is a skilled athlete who manipulates the ball in a great way. He reminds me a lot of Sample, so I’m not sure if the Bengals would be a good fit for him. Sample recently inked a long-term contract with the team; why would they add Reiman to the mix when Reiman has far more athletic potential?