Bengals hit scouting combine seeking reset at tight end position

The Cincinnati Bengals have very much been a “revolving door” at the tight end position over the last few years.

Even Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin used that terminology this week at the scouting combine, admitting that how the position has shaken out for the team over the last few years has seemingly been the best path.

“It has been a revolving door,” Tobin said. “That’s not what we’re looking for. It’s what’s been presented to us, in our estimation, as the best way forward. We’ll continue to evaluate that.”

The approach finally backfired this past offseason. After C.J. Uzomah left and the team got one good season out of Hayden Hurst, the front office opted for Irv Smith Jr. and he wound up replaced by backups.

Now, Cincinnati doesn’t have much of a choice but to do a full reset, with all of zero tight ends under contract on the roster right now.

Granted, this doesn’t mean the Bengals will go use an early pick on the position. They’ll likely try to bring back Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson, but like Tobin describes in the interview, they’re looking for a wide range of guys with different skill sets to slot into the offense.

LIVE: Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin speaks to the media at the #NFLCombine

https://t.co/bzFUg5R2so

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) February 27, 2024