Bengals considered taking Erick All in Round 3

Cincinnati eventually snagged him in the fourth round, but he almost went higher.

The Cincinnati Bengals had a strong draft, and in win-now mode, they should feel that they improved upon a few weaknesses, mainly on the defensive line.

Adding a key offensive lineman in the first round may also help keep superstar quarterback Joe Burrow upright this season. The Bengals added a slew of players, one of which was Iowa tight end Erick All.

All is 6-foot-5 and played in high school at Fairfield, about 30 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati.

While he was taken with the 115th pick in the draft, All was considered far higher by the Bengals, although some thought that the fourth-round selection was a reach for the injury-prone tight end.

“They were talking about All as early as No. 80,” Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com said.

All’s last two seasons have been cut short, one by a herniated back disc and the other by a torn ACL. While he, per Hobson, said he’s going to be ready for camp, the Bengals will thankfully have many other options at the position.

All was a key target as a junior for Michigan, notching 38 receptions for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns. He transferred to Iowa for his final season, where he had 21 receptions for 299 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

If he can stay healthy, it will be a huge key here, but All has the speed and the hands to be a game-changing option for the Bengals. While that might not come right away, he could become a key backup tight end this season, especially if Zac Taylor continues to dabble in two tight end sets.

Thankfully, the Bengals were able to add All and Jermaine Burton, the Alabama wide receiver that they selected with the 80th overall pick. Cincinnati improved its roster, and now it just needs to bring all the talent together for what should be a contending team in 2024.

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