How important is a TE

[Bengalstripes9]

I think pass rush would move the needle much further than tight end.

My ranking of needs:
Dline
Oline
Defensive secondary
Wide Receiver if we lose Tee
Tight End
Linebacker
Running Back
QB

(The last 3 are definitely not needs in my opinion)

We struggled along the dline this year and it made things hard on the linebackers in the run game.
We struggled in the secondary as well. A lot of this should improve with young players gaining experience, but it was a big weakness.

I do think it would be nice to have a more dynamic tight end, but I don't put it at the top of my list of priorities.
We can score with a balanced offensive game plan--as we saw against the 9ers and Bills.
We just need to develop that balanced game plan, with more deception.
A tight end would help, but we would be perfectly fine with Hudson, Sample, and a free agent, and possibly a mid round rookie.

I think the Bengals learned their lesson from Gresham and Eifert. Both were great tight ends. But there were much better tight ends taken after Gresham was taken early (gronk). Tight end is a very injury prone position because of the force needed to tackle them. And, can we really expect to be able to sign a playmaker to a second contract if we have Burrow and Chase--as well as Tee possibly?

LaPorta, Gronk, Kittle, and even Kelce (63rd overall) are great examples of how you can draft tight ends later in the draft. I prefer this strategy paired with free agency. It's too risky picking them in the 1st, especially after Eifert. I think Hockenson may be the only first rounder (currently) that I'd consider a top tight end.

We need fresh, young players along the dline and oline more than anything. Need to draft some studs high and develop them. In a couple years who knows what the conversation will be with Hendrickson getting older. Already we have Reader on his way out.. Our oline isn't young by any means--mostly free agents. A young stud up front would be huge for the long-term sustainability of that unit.

As far as my 3rd top need, I like the young secondary players. I wouldn't be against adding another young player there. But we are probably fine adding a free agent or two and a mid round pick.