Tight end continues to be one of those positions mentioned alongside the Cincinnati Bengals as the 2023 NFL draft approaches.
Whether it’s mock drafts that have the Bengals taking the spot in the first round or just general conversation, most have targeted the area for the team. That makes sense, given Hayden Hurst, Drew Sample and Mitchell Wilcox are all free agents.
The latest to do this is Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon, who identifies Utah’s Dalton Kincaid as Cincinnati’s “dream draft target” this year:
“Knowing the depth of the position, tight end might not be the Bengals’ earliest preference. That instead might be any spot in the secondary—especially if safety Jessie Bates III leaves in free agency—or the offensive line. But if Hayden Hurst doesn’t stay in Cincinnati, Dalton Kincaid is an appealing backup plan. He’s a reliable pass-catcher built to thrive in short and intermediate areas.”
The Bengals might only get one shot at Kincaid via the first round and it’s debatable whether they choose that path given the extreme depth of the tight end class this year.
Still, it’s not a secret the team wants to get more dynamic through the air at the position, which will open up the scheme more and future-proof the potential loss of Tyler Boyd after 2023. Kincaid fits these ideas, though more pressing needs and how the board falls could prevent it.
