Bengals TE depth chart predictions after 2022 NFL Draft

TE1: Hayden Hurst

This one feels pretty obvious. The Bengals didn’t sign Hayden Hurst to a contract this summer for him to be anything other than the starting tight end.

Hurst was a first-round pick by the Ravens in 2018 but was overshadowed by fellow 2018 pick Mark Andrews, who has flourished in that offense. Hurst eventually was sent to Atlanta in March of 2020 and put together his best NFL season that year.

During that 2020 season, Hurst racked up 56 catches for 571 yards and six touchdowns, all of which were career highs for him.

In 2021, however, his production declined due to the Falcons drafting Kyle Pitts fourth overall. Pitts became the go-to in the Falcons’ offense and Hurst’s stock took a dip as a result.

Hurst hasn’t been great during his NFL career but the numbers he put up in 2020 were better than any that Uzomah did during his time in Cincinnati. That makes him a solid fit for this offense because the Bengals have enough talent at receiver that the tight ends don’t have to be superstars.