Hurst to Panthers

[*Go Cards*]

(03-15-2023, 11:51 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I wouldn't go that far.
Hurst's best season was actually with the Falcons.
2020 - 56 rec for 571 yards (10.2 YPC) and 6 TDs

Hurst had just 4 more receptions that season than he did with the Bengals in the regular season, showing it was a severe drop in YPC.
He did perform better in the playoffs though, putting up 13 rec for 141 yards and a TD at 10.8 YPR.

Hurst did everything the Bengals asked him to do and did it well.  Not his fault the OL was shabby and Burrow had to start throwing quicker. If the OL was better and he added just one or two long catches his #'s would be much higher. 

The Falcons notoriously use TE's in their offense much more than the Bengals as well.

Believe Hurst received 88 targets catching 56 in that 2020 season and only 68 targets catching 52 in the Bengals offense. So in Atlanta he got targeted 20 more times yet only caught 4 more passes.  Plus the Playoffs is what really tells the tale in my book anyway  where Hayden upped his #'s against elite competition with 3 OL injured and no time for deep routes to even be run. He was learning a new offense too so not uncommon to be more up to par at the seasons end, especially with not much preseason play.

Anyway it's my opinion that Hurst will rank amongst the top TE's on new team unlike Uzomah who rode Burrow's coattail. He will be missed but the Bengals offense is not fueled solely by TE's and he can be replaced. 

It's not only Burrow who makes most TE's serviceable here imo but the coverage the WR's draw away from them. 

Best wishes to Hurst