All Bengals

Four Thoughts on Bengals Potential Tight End Targets After NFL Combine

Cincinnati is in the market for at least one tight end.

James Rapien

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The Bengals are in the market for tight end help this offseason. The good news is this draft class is loaded with talent at the position. 

There are guys with great tape and production. Others with freakish athleticism and some that appear ready to "do it all" at the next level. 

Here are four thoughts on the tight end position following Saturday's workouts and how the Bengals could address it in the 2023 NFL Draft:

The Freak From Georgia

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia tight end Darnell Washington stole the show on Saturday when he ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at 6-6, 264 pounds. He also jumped over 10 feet in the broad jump and ran the short shuttle in 4.08 seconds. 

All of those marks are elite. 

Washington already showed he can be a high-end blocker and looked to be a natural pass catcher during drills at the combine. 

The Bengals will have to consider the possibility of taking him in round one, but he might not make it that far.  

Another Iowa Stud

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Will Sam LaPorta follow in George Kittle's footsteps? 

The Iowa product impressed in Indianapolis, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and 6.91-second 3-cone drill.  

LaPorta's numbers looked eerily similar to Kittle's. He isn't the biggest player at 6-3, 245 pounds, but his athleticism and his ability to catch, run and block certainly captured the Bengals' attention. 

LaPorta was productive at Iowa, hauling in 111 passes for 1,327 yards and four touchdowns over the past two seasons. If the Bengals haven't address tight end on day two of the draft, then he'll certainly be in the mix at pick 60 and/or pick 92.

Steady Mayer

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Mayer is arguably the most complete tight end in a class full of freaks and players with unique traits. The Bengals love his film as a blocker and pass catcher. 

Mayer was solid on Saturday and didn't do anything to hurt his stock, but his testing won't surprise anyone that watched him at Notre Dame either. 

He ran a 4.7 40-yard dash, which included a 1.66 10-yard split. He has slightly below average size at 6-4, 249 pounds. 

Despite posting slightly above average testing numbers, Mayer's a stud on film. He caught 180 passes for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons at Notre Dame. 

He had 67 or more receptions and topped the 800-yard mark in each of the past two seasons. Combine that with the fact that he was a solid blocker and it's easy to see why the Bengals would want to add him to their roster. 

There aren't many "plug-and-play" tight ends anymore, but Mayer has a chance to make an instant impact as a rookie. 

Double Dip?

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Let's say the Bengals take Mayer, Washington LaPorta or even Luke Musgrave on day one or day two of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Don't cross off that position completely. They could double dip and take a second tight end at some point in rounds 4-7. That's how much talent there is in this tight end class. 

South Dakota State's Tucker Kraft was impressive at the combine. Michigan's Luke Schoonmaker tested well and has good enough size to get the Bengals' attention. Cincinnati’s Josh Whyle is another possible mid-round target. 

The Bengals double dipped in the 2015 draft when they took Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah in rounds 3 and 5, respectively. This class is deeper and has better athletes, so it wouldn't be shocking to see them address the position twice. 

They've done this at multiple positions in team history and triple-dipped at linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft when they took Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey in the same class. 

It's worth noting that the Bengals met with Washington, Mayer, LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid in Indianapolis.

Bonus

Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz impressed scouts by becoming the tallest player ever (6-7) to post a 40-inch vertical leap and run a 4.55 40-yard dash. He was coming off of surgery that repaired a knee cap dislocation according to Ian Rapoport. Kuntz ranks No. 1 among tight ends in the 1,020 that have been ranked from 1987-2023 according to Kent Lee Platte's Relative Athletic Score data. 

For more on the Bengals, watch the video below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Make sure you bookmark All Bengals for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

You May Also Like:

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Should Bengals Target UCLA Running Back Zach Charbonnet?

Germaine Pratt Comments On Playing Time Again As Free Agency Approaches

Taylor Lewan Wants to Block for Joe Burrow: 'I Know the Bengals Need a Left Tackle'

ESPN's Bill Barnwell Says Signing Jessie Bates III Should Be Bengals First Key Offseason Move

Bengals Select Oklahoma Offensive Tackle Anton Harrison In Draft Network, PFF Mock Drafts

Watch: NFL Picks Out Bengals 10 Best Plays From 2022-23 Season

Trey Wingo Shares Joe Burrow Story Portraying His Steely Mentality Dating Back To Grade School

Tight End or Cornerback Could Make Sense For Bengals in Round One of 2023 NFL Draft

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Is Texas RB Bijan Robinson a Good Fit For Cincinnati Bengals' Offense?

Bengals Prospect Breakdown: Israel Abanikanda Could Bring Juice to Running Back Room

Bengals Re-Sign Long Snapper Cal Adomitis For 2023-24 Season

Watch: NFL Ranks Joe Burrow's Top Ten Plays From 2022-23 Season

A Look Ahead: Cincinnati Bengals Offseason Predictions

Zac Taylor: They're Gonna Have To Carry Me Out Of' Cincinnati 'In A Casket'

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bengals all the time!

Subscribe to the All Bengals YouTube channel

Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals

Like Our FaceBook Page

Subscribe and follow the ONLY Daily Bengals Podcast

Follow on TikTok

Published
James Rapien
JAMES RAPIEN

James Rapien is the publisher of Bengals On SI. He's also the host of the Locked on Bengals podcast and Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. The Cincinnati native also wrote a book about the history of the Cincinnati Bengals called Enter The Jungle. Prior to joining Bengals On SI, Rapien worked at 700 WLW and ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati

Home/AllBengals Insiders+