The Cincinnati Bengals have clearly made the tight end position a priority this offseason and it showed at the scouting combine.
Some big-name prospects came away impressed with the Bengals, too.
In Indianapolis, high-profile prospects Dalton Kincaid out of Utah and Michael Mayer of Notre Dame both said they enjoyed meeting with the Bengals during the usual draft process.
Mayer, notably, said he got the full 18-minute experience with the team. He said he would love to play with his hometown Bengals and link up with Joe Burrow in the offense.
Caleb Noe of WCPO caught Mayer’s comments from the presser Friday:
“It would be awesome, Joe Burrow throwing me that ball!”
Michael Mayer going to the #Bengals in the NFL draft looks like a real possibility.
“I remember being a Bengals fan… Ochocinco & TJ Houshmandzadeh… I remember thinking, ‘They’re having fun out there.’” pic.twitter.com/VslJoH0o8r
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) March 3, 2023
The Bengals actually got the first meeting of any team with Kincaid, who loved the sessions, per Luke Sawhook:
Dalton Kincaid on his formal meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals: pic.twitter.com/UvWOhg9OMV
— Luke Sawhook 🪚🪝 (@lukesawhook) March 3, 2023
The Bengals might not end up using a first-round pick on tight end given the superb depth of the position this offseason. But with Hayden Hurst, Mitchell Wilcox and Drew Sample all free agents, it’s inevitable they will attack it multiple times this offseason.
Mayer and Kincaid are near the top of the list as far as options go — and both seem to be on board with the idea, too.