2024 mock

[*ochocincos*]

(06-28-2023, 01:31 PM)Hammerstripes Wrote: I think we can pretty much eliminate TE from the first few rounds.  It's pretty obvious that the Bengals don't value them at all early in the draft.

If word-of-mouth is true and Taylor, Tobin, etc. were interested in Dalton Kincaid in Rd 1, I don't think TE is not valued early.
If anything, I think Bengals are being (overly) critical of the TE talent in order to take one early.

Also, I'll almost guarantee Bengals won't get a good pass-catching TE who can contribute early (significant reps in the passing game within first year or two) if they don't take one within first few rounds.
Take with that what you will.

So they'll either need to take a TE early or continue their trend of getting veteran TEs.
They've had a different top TE every season Taylor's been HC:
2019 - Eifert (436 yards, 10.1 YPR)
2020 - Sample (349 yards, 8.7 YPR)
2021 - Uzomah (493 yards, 10.1 YPR)
2022 - Hurst (414 yards, 8.0 YPR)

If the Bengals really do plan to open the playbook, I'd think (or hope) more emphasis on the TE as a pass catcher would be included in that. And I don't mean just having them run routes but deeper routes. And you'll need someone with more speed and agility to do that, which makes sense why they would have wanted Kincaid if true.