James Rapien - Combine Player Meets for Bengals

[*ochocincos*]

James Rapien gives us a list of the players the Bengals were known to have met with at the Combine.
https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/full-list-players-cincinnati-bengals-met-with-2023-nfl-combine

Dalton Kincaid, TE Utah
Sam Laporta, TE Iowa
Michael Mayer, TE Notre Dame
Darnell Washington, TE Georgia
Josh Whyle, TE UC

Zach Charbonnet, RB UCLA
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama
Cam Peoples, RB App St
Tavion Thomas, RB Utah

Emmanuel Forbes, CB Miss St
Clark Phillips, CB Utah
Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia
Garrett Williams, CB Syracuse

Richard Gouraige, OL Florida
Darnell Wright, OT Tennessee
Ivan Pace, LB UC
Antoine Green, WR UNC
Parker Washington, WR Penn St
Brian Bresee, DT Clemson
Gervon Dexter, DT Florida
Nolan Smith, EDGE Georgia

Any thoughts based on the guys/positions they met with?

Mine:
- With basically all their TEs hitting FA, they are doing their evals on early TEs. That doesn't mean they'll let Hurst walk in favor of a draft pick, but I could see them using the strength of the TEs in this draft class as a reason to not give too much money to Hurst or some other veteran TE.
- They could be eyeing another RB to replace Mixon or Perine
- CB and DT could be targets. Awuzie is in the last year of his contract and coming back from a season-ending injury. DJ Reader is in the final year of his contract, and BJ Hill's contract ends after 2024 season. Not surprised if they take one of these positions, if not both, in the draft.
- The WRs they met with indicate they are looking probably early Day 3 for someone who can be a depth guy but maybe get into a starting role in a year or two.
- The lack of OL gives me indication they either don't plan to look much at the draft for OL help, or it's a smokescreen (which they don't typically do).