As the Cincinnati Bengals look for ways to improve their performance enough to get back to the playoffs in 2025, specific position groups need to improve. One of those areas where improvement is required is the Bengals’ running backs position, but another position similar to the running back group is the tight end position. The Bengals have lacked consistency over the last several seasons at the tight end position. As the Bengals enter mini-camp and OTA season, they have several tight ends on their roster. For Cincinnati to reach its highest potential in 2025, one or more of these tight ends must elevate their performance.
TE 1: Mike Gesicki
At the end of the 2024 season and heading into the 2025 season, Mike Gesicki is the favorite to be the top tight end for the Bengals. The 6’6″, 245-pound Gesicki came to Cincinnati in 2024 after spending the first portion of his career with the Miami Dolphins (2018-2022) and one season with the New England Patriots. During the 2024 season, Gesicki played in 17 games for the Bengals and caught 65 passes for 665 yards. Despite being a productive weapon for quarterback Joe Burrow, Gesicki only scored two touchdowns. In contrast, Gesicki’s career numbers are 325 receptions for 3,526 yards and 22 touchdowns. In 2025, either the Bengals need to better put Gesicki in a position to succeed, or Gesicki needs to step up his performance.
TE 2: Drew Sample
Before the start of the 2024 season, many viewed Drew Sample as the top tight end for the Bengals’ offense. However, Sample ended up splitting time with Gesicki for the 2024 season. When looking at Sample’s production in 2024, he is a more productive target in the passing game, but he struggles at times with effective blocking. Statistically, Sample was the Bengals’ top-producing tight end with 100 catches for 730 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. During OTAs, there should be some healthy competition between Sample and Gesicki for the top tight end role on the Bengals offense.
TE 3: Erick All Jr.
Erick All Jr. has all the measurables of a great tight end in the NFL. With All’s impressive 6’5″, 255-pound frame, the young tight end looks to play for the Bengals. In contrast, All only played in nine games for Cincinnati in 2024, and he caught only 20 passes for 188 yards. All is a great example of a Bengals tight end who needs to step up and show that he can make a greater contribution to the Bengals’ offense.
TE 4: Tanner Hudson
Tanner Hudson is another tight end on the Bengals roster that has the potential to become a playmaker for the Bengals, but his production so far does not match that potential. In 2023, Hudson played in 12 games and caught 39 passes for 352 yards and scored three touchdowns. In Hudson’s second season with the Bengals during the 2024 season, Hudson played in 11 games but only caught 19 passes for 154 yards while scoring one touchdown. From year 1 to year 2, Hudson appears to not be growing into a greater role for the Bengals and may find himself fighting for a chance to earn a position on the Bengals 2025 roster.
TE 5: Tanner McLachlan
During the 2024 season, Tanner McLachlan could appear in two games for the Bengals. Despite being able to play a role on the field for Cincinnati, he did not post any meaningful stats. The 6’5″, 245-pound McLachlan will find himself fighting for an opportunity to make the Bengals roster, and earning a spot on the Bengals practice squad would be a success for this young tight end. Before coming to the Bengals, McLachlan played in 13 games for the University of Arizona in 2023, and he caught 45 passes for 528 yards along with four touchdowns for the Wildcats.
TE 6: Cam Grandy
Cam Grandy is another long shot to make the Bengals’ 2025 roster as a tight end. In 2024, Grandy played in 8 games for the Bengals but only caught five passes for 28 yards. While Grandy has the ideal body type for an NFL tight end at 6’5″ and 253 pounds, Grandy’s ceiling would be to establish himself as a special-teams contributor. During the 2024 season, Grandy caught five passes for 28 yards but failed to impact the Bengals’ offense significantly.
TE 7: UDFA Kole Taylor
Undrafted free agent Kole Taylor should attract some attention during the Bengals’ Rookie Mini-Camp. The 6’7″, 255-pound Taylor is exceptionally tall, and if he can show that he can be competitive at the NFL level, Taylor may find a way to stick around Cincinnati going into 2025. Taylor played college football at LSU and finished his college football career at West Virginia. While playing for the Mountaineers, Taylor played in 26 games and caught 78 passes for 992 yards. Taylor also scored eight touchdowns while playing at West Virginia. Taylor’s height could allow him to grow into a short-yardage receiving threat, especially in the field’s red zone and goal-line areas.
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