Training camp will be here before we know it and the Cincinnati Bengals will use it as an opportunity to figure out what they have at the tight end position.
While Drew Sample looks to be the favorite to win the job, C.J. Uzomah is a proven vet for the team and would probably still be the TE1 had he not gotten injured early on last year. Sample was taken in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft for a reason though and it’s time for him to show why the Bengals took him whenre they did.
A veteran tight end could make sense for the Bengals but for now, this is the unit they’re rolling with entering training camp.
Here’s what the Cincinnati Bengals’ tight end depth chart looks like for training camp.
- Drew Sample
- C.J. Uzomah
- Mason Schreck
- Mitchell Wilcox
- Thaddeus Moss
- Cheyenne O’Grady
- Pro Wells
Sample and Uzomah are locks to make the roster but it’s a battle as far as who wins the third-string job for the Bengals.
Schreck was taken in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft and has appeared in 22 games over the past three years. He hasn’t had a single reception yet in his career but his familiarity with the organization could help keep him on the roster moving forward.
There isn’t much to say about Wilcox, who has yet to appear in an NFL game. He spent last season on the practice squad and has another chance to make a splash with the team this summer.
Moss hasn’t seen any action in the NFL either but personally, I like his chances of taking a major leap on the depth chart. He played with Joe Burrow in college and that’s probably why Cincinnati felt comfortable bringing him in this year.
O’Grady was signed in May after playing college ball at Arkansas from 2015-2019. In the 2018 season, he had 400 yards receiving and six touchdowns, proving he can be a threat in the red zone. He’ll have his work cut out for him in training camp but there’s upside with the former Razorback for sure.
Wells went undrafted out of TCU and while his collegiate numbers aren’t the most eye-popping, there’s reason to believe he can make some noise this summer. Stripe Hype’s own Glenn Adams stated after the draft that Wells could be the next Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez and that’s quite the statement right there but it’s not hard to see why given his size (6’3″ and 249 pounds).
The tight end position will certainly be one to keep a close eye on during training camp because there’s one open spot on the final roster and then maybe a practice squad position available as well. Who will emerge out of this bunch to claim the final roster spot?