Tight ends the Bengals should target at the NFL Trade Deadline deal
Who the Bengals could target if they choose to upgrade the tight end position before the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline.
The positive, negative, and ugly.
Commence with the negative.
This summer, the Cincinnati Bengals signed tight end Irv Smith, Jr. to a one-year contract to take Hayden Hurst’s spot. Prior to Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith, a former second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, had just six receptions for 32 yards and no touchdowns. The Bengals had high expectations for his performance, but thus far, he has delivered anything but.
Then there’s the ugly. Late in the second quarter, with Cincinnati leading by a 14-10 margin and driving for more at the 49er’s 3-yard-line, Smith took a swing pass from quarterback Joe Burrow and promptly fumbled to end the threat.
The good, at least, was reasonably encouraging. Smith had his finest Bengals game to date against the 49ers, hauling in four passes on four targets for 25 yards, including a long of 11 yards. He was the only tight end with a reception and had more catches than Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd.
In fact, Irv Smith (45.0), Drew Sample (39.1), and Mitchell Wilcox (37.3) were the Bengals’ three lowest-graded offensive players in their victory over the 49ers, according to Pro Football Focus.
As if it wasn’t obvious enough that this position is severely lacking for a team that looked fully capable of a deep playoff run Sunday in one of the hardest places to win.
Should Cincinnati ride with Smith and the others for the rest of the year? Or is it time to make a change? The NFL Trade Deadline is Tuesday, so the Bengals will need to make a decision soon.
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Tanner Hudson of the practice squad might be promoted by Cincinnati. When Smith was hurt early in the season, Hudson stepped in and did a fantastic job. In the two games he played, he finished with four receptions for 48 yards, including a long of 26 yards in a win over the Los Angeles Rams.
However, free agency won’t bring us any solutions. The well has run dry. Adam Shaheen and Maxx Williams are the top two tight ends still available as free agents; neither has participated in competitive action since 2021.
Hence, trades will be the Bengals’ only option if they want to bolster their tight end room. And there are a few who would be appropriate.
Zach Ertz, a former standout for the Philadelphia Eagles, is likely at the top of that list. Ertz still has a lot of energy left, even though he recently went on the injured reserve due to a quad strain and won’t be able to return until Week 12. So far this season, he has 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals.
Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, two New England Patriot tight ends, are also possible trade candidates. Henry has two touchdowns and 238 yards on 23 catches, while Gesicki has
narrow end The Indianapolis Colts no longer value Mo Alie-Cox, even though he has only six drops in 134 targets thus far. Alie-Cox has only been targeted eight times this year, with five receptions totaling 72 yards and a touchdown. Recently, PFF proposed that the Bengals target Alie-Cox.
Hurst has only 14 receptions for the Carolina Panthers, and just one in the last two games, so it might finally make sense for Cincinnati to think about getting back together with him.
Hurst is the tight end with the third-lowest drop percentage (2.6%), with only five drops on 190 targets in his career. With at least four receptions and 35 yards last season, he was especially useful for the Bengals.
The Bengals have the opportunity to take action.
Which name or names do you think the Bengals should target? Tell us in the space provided for comments!
