Bengals Free Agency: 5 tight end options if C.J. Uzomah isn’t retained

With Bengals free agency inching closer, it’s time to think of some tight end options if the Cincinnati Bengals are unable to retain C.J. Uzomah.

The Bengals selected Uzomah in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and he’s coming off his best year in the league with 49 receptions for 493 yards and five touchdowns. Uzomah was a favorite target of Joe Burrow’s but with the tight end projected to earn a three-year deal worth $24 million ($8.2 million annually) per Spotrac, the team might be forced to look in another direction.

Uzomah has never had more than 500 yards in a single season and his five touchdowns in 2021 were a career-high. That right there could be a reason for the Bengals to look in another direction at the position.

Drew Sample isn’t the answer and Thaddeus Moss didn’t even see the field despite fans being excited to see him reunited with Burrow. If Uzomah isn’t retained, Cincinnati will need a new starting tight end.

Who could be TE1 for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022? Let’s take a look at some options.