It sure sounds like the Cincinnati Bengals and head coach Zac Taylor liked tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta in the 2023 NFL draft.
Despite it being projected as something the Bengals could address early in the draft, the Bengals didn’t end up using one of their eight selections on tight end.
But if the board had fallen differently, perhaps that would have changed.
Speaking with Solomon Wilcotts on Bleav, Taylor revealed that the Bengals liked two of the early tight ends in the class.
“There were certainly some tight ends that we had some regard for that got picked up pretty soon,” Taylor said. “Those first two, we really liked and you know they went with the 26th pick and 35th pick to Detroit. Those were two really good players who I think would’ve helped us. But again, we’re happy to not reach because we felt good about the group we had.”
Kincaid went to the Buffalo Bills at the 25th pick and the Bengals picked Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy at No. 28. LaPorta went 34th overall to the Detroit Lions (Michael Mayer went 35th to Las Vegas).
It shouldn’t be any surprise the Bengals valued the higher-upside prospects over Mayer in that range, as it’s not a secret the team wants to get more dynamic at the position. Coaches believe they have that already with Irv Smith Jr. and used their draft picks accordingly when on the clock.
As noted, it’s the Irv Smith Jr. show, though it’s understandable if Bengals fans keep a close eye on those two or three names at the position who came off the board early, too.
