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For the Cincinnati Bengals, tight end is one of the sleeper NFL draft needs to keep in mind right now.
So, which prospects fit?
The Bengals probably wouldn’t spend a high pick on the spot, given the needs of the roster elsewhere.
But it’s fitting that Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo just ran through the best developmental prospects for each team and came up with a tight end for the Bengals.
It’s Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon:
“Mike Gesicki is back with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he's obviously a temporary solution at tight end. Notre Dame's Eli Raridon took a nice step forward in 2025, producing 32 receptions for 482 yards (15.1 yards per catch). Raridon is a primary pass catcher, but plays with enough in-line blocking technique to suggest he's capable of expanding his horizons in the NFL.”
A developmental tight end is probably the route the Bengals would go at the spot, too.
After all, Mike Gesicki has his role as a receiver and Drew Sample is a blocker. They’re going to want at least one year to see if Erick All can shake his injury history and become the complete player he obviously has a chance of being.
While that pans out, Raridon could be developing in the background. And it’s a pretty fun idea to have a 6’7” weapon figuring out the NFL and waiting in the wings, right?
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals tabbed as best NFL draft fit for developmental big weapon
Continue reading...
So, which prospects fit?
The Bengals probably wouldn’t spend a high pick on the spot, given the needs of the roster elsewhere.
But it’s fitting that Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo just ran through the best developmental prospects for each team and came up with a tight end for the Bengals.
It’s Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon:
“Mike Gesicki is back with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he's obviously a temporary solution at tight end. Notre Dame's Eli Raridon took a nice step forward in 2025, producing 32 receptions for 482 yards (15.1 yards per catch). Raridon is a primary pass catcher, but plays with enough in-line blocking technique to suggest he's capable of expanding his horizons in the NFL.”
A developmental tight end is probably the route the Bengals would go at the spot, too.
After all, Mike Gesicki has his role as a receiver and Drew Sample is a blocker. They’re going to want at least one year to see if Erick All can shake his injury history and become the complete player he obviously has a chance of being.
While that pans out, Raridon could be developing in the background. And it’s a pretty fun idea to have a 6’7” weapon figuring out the NFL and waiting in the wings, right?
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals tabbed as best NFL draft fit for developmental big weapon
Continue reading...
