These former Cincinnati Bengals didn’t just play in stripes; they started their careers in Cincinnati. When a player starts their career with a team, fans form a special bond with those players, especially when they find success on the field.
Not every draft pick works out; the Bengals have seen their fair share of misses. For these players listed below, fans were fortunate enough to get some exciting times out of them.
Although their careers may be coming to an end, fans will always see these guys as Bengals. Here are a few former Bengals draft picks that may be done in the NFL:
All stats and transactions courtesy of Pro Football Reference
4. Tyler Eifert
First-round pick in 2013 NFL Draft
When Tyler Eifert calls it a career in the NFL, his tenure with the Bengals will always be the highlight of his career. If he isn’t the best tight end in Bengals history, he is certainly in the top three.
Eifert burst onto the scene in the 2015 season. The third-year tight end finished with 13 receiving touchdowns, putting him tied for second in the NFL with Odell Beckham Jr. When healthy, there was never a way for fans to deny his talent, but that was the issue; in six seasons with the Bengals, Eifert only appeared in 43 games.
The veteran tight end last played with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, managing to play in 15 games, tying a career-high. While there were rumors the Bengals might have been interested in signing him to play in the Super Bowl, rumors are all those words ever were.
Eifert hasn’t officially retired, but it’s hard to imagine he lands on another roster in the NFL.