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5 Cincinnati Bengals who won’t be back in 2022

By Leigh Oleszczak

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Auden Tate (19) -Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Auden Tate

The Bengals found themselves a steal in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft with Auden Tate, who went on to record 760 yards through the first three years of his career. Most of those yards came during his sophomore campaign in 2019, as he grabbed 40 balls for 575 yards and one touchdown.

Last year saw Tate marred by injuries and he finished the year with just 150 yards off of 14 catches through nine games.

Even with his down year in 2020, the Bengals expected Tate to be a nice WR4 behind the trio of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. It’s been anything but that, unfortunately, as Tate has just three catches for 39 yards. He does have a touchdown, which came in the blowout win over Detroit (and wasn’t even thrown by Joe Burrow).

Tate is a free-agent following this season and the team should honestly consider trading him if they aren’t going to utilize him. They have enough talent that they could afford to part ways with Tate and could get a draft pick back in the process.

Even if they don’t trade the former Florida State product, Tate could be a WR3 or even a WR2 on most other rosters. There won’t be much of a need for Cincinnati to re-sign him.