May 10, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick tight end Tyler Eifert (85) runs down field during the Bengals rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Going into the 2013 NFL Draft, the biggest needs for the Cincinnati Bengals were in a number of areas other than tight end, but with Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert sitting on the board at pick #21, it was too good of an oppurtunity to pass up. Eifert led the Fighting Irish in receiving in 2012 with a team-best 50 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns, as he won the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end.

In 2011, Eifert led all FBS tight ends with 63 grabs for 803 yards, and his five touchdowns made him a nice red-zone complement to first-round receiver Michael Floyd. He’ll hope to have a similar role in Cincinnati as he looks to take pressure off of A.J. Green, who is constantly facing double and even triple teams as opponents are beginning to give him the superstar treatment reserved for only the elite.

But when looking out how Eifert will upgrade the Bengals offense, Jamison Hensley of ESPN pointed out how Cincinnati sported one of the worst 3rd-down conversion rates in the NFL in 2012, and Eifert’s potential impact on that:

Third downs: Where the Bengals have struggled the most is on third downs. Cincinnati ranked 27th in converting third downs last season at 34 percent. To put it in perspective, the only teams worse than the Bengals in this category were four last-place teams (Chiefs, Browns, Jaguars and Cardinals) and a team with a losing record (Rams). Dalton was particularly poor on third downs, completing 47.5 of his passes (worst among quarterbacks with at least 350 pass attempts) and throwing seven interceptions (tied for third-most on third downs).

Eifert came up big on third downs during his time at Notre Dame. In the last two seasons, he caught 36 passes on third downs and converted 31 of them into first downs. His 13 receptions on third down last season was tied for eighth among college tight ends, according to ESPN Stats & Information. What makes Eifert so valuable in these situations is the trust factor. Dalton can look to Eifert in pressure moments because he has dependable hands and can make tough catches while getting hit. The same can’t be said of Gresham, whose mental lapses and drops have hurt Cincinnati.

May 10, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals first round draft pick tight end Tyler Eifert (85) catches a pass during the Bengals rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals did not address any of their primary needs with their first round pick. They didn’t select a strong safety, nor a running back, nor even an offensive lineman, any of which was largely expected by many fans and pundits alike.

Instead, the team went on offense, leaving their holes on the defensive side of the ball for a tight end out of Notre Dame.

The funny thing is that this may be why I’m more excited for the Bengals upcoming season than I have ever been.

Tyler Eifert, you can officially count me as a member of your fan club.

And Bengals fans, I think you should follow suit.

The last two years, Andy Dalton has had one guy on offense that repeatedly helped him move the chains through the air. The guy that at one point had more touchdowns than games played last season: sensational young receiver, A.J. Green.

But that’s it. The chemistry really didn’t have time to develop between Dalton and Mohamed Sanu, as the receiver went down with a foot injury after a short stint opposite Green at wide-out.

Marvin Jones was just beginning to emerge as an effective receiver as the season drew to a quick close. He even showed glimpses of his ability to make the big play down the field.

The position of tight end for the Bengals has been a strange case these last few years.

Jermaine Gresham has also shown glimpses of the high draft stock he brought to the table a few years ago. However, he has also been plagued by dropped passes, something that Dalton would certainly love to see a lot less of on 2^nd and long.

In steps Tyler Eifert, and suddenly the situation on offense gets a whole lot more intriguing.

Eifert, ironically selected with the same overall pick as was Gresham, brings with him a 6 ft-5, 250 pound frame.

He can also catch anything within a half-mile radius coming his way.

And here we see the reason why I am so excited.

November 18, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) runs the ball in the first half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

With a lot of the talk this offseason being about Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and his potential impact on a Bengals squad looking to go from being an average unit to one capable of making a postseason run, it’s easy to forget that Jermaine Gresham was once viewed as the next great NFL TE. Though he’s been to a pair of Pro Bowls as an alternate, most would agree Gresh has failed to live up to the high expectations placed on him when he came out of Oklahoma, but CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora believes the former Sooner is poised for a breakout 2013 campaign:

You cannot deny Gresham’s athleticism and ability, and sometimes it takes a little time for it to come together, and perhaps Eifert’s arrival will be a kick in the pants as well. Coordinator Jay Gruden is already falling in love with his two-tight end sets, and I believe Gresham actually will benefit from Eifert’s arrival.

A.J. Green already scares the hell out of every opponent on the outside and quarterback Andy Dalton knows he needs to take a step up this season. Gresham has two years left on his rookie deal and must realize if he’s going to be primed for a possible exit in free agency, or through trade, the time to improve his stock is now.

He has shown enough flashes to merit further consideration and he was targeted nearly 100 times already in this offense a year ago. He has more experience in Gruden’s system and years of practicing with Dalton, all of which should serve him well, and I believe the drafting of another player at his position so high, and so soon, will ultimately expedite Gresham’s blossoming.

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