2 perfect fits at tight end for Bengals at opposite ends of 2023 NFL Draft

There is a theme amongst the Cincinnati Bengals fanbase: the team needs to address the tight end position in the upcoming NFL Draft. Luckily for the Bengals, two tight ends fit perfectly with what they need from that position, at opposite ends of the draft. 

Rankings courtesy of PFF, NFL Mock Draft Database, NFL Draft Buzz, NFL.com, and ESPN

Darnell Washington, Georgia

If the Bengals want the best tight end for what they do, they will need to select Darnell Washington with the 28th overall pick. The Georgia Bulldog is the best run and pass blocker of this year’s class.

We have witnessed Zac Taylor try to implement blocking defensive ends with tight ends since he became head coach and de facto offensive coordinator. Those attempts have failed miserably. A player of Washington’s talent and stature would be an excellent option to help open up some of those things that Taylor likes to do. 

To coach Taylor’s credit, we saw a lot less of tight ends one-on-one versus edge rushers in passing situations. But we also got to see just how well of a pass blocker running back Samaje Perine is in those situations. Now with Perine in Denver, the Bengals will need to find someone who can pick up the slack in that area. 

When it comes to pass catching, Washington is a capable receiver. His statistics are not as prolific as Dalton Kincaid's or Michael Mayer's but in Cincinnati’s offense, which features Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon, he does not need to be.

This does not mean that he is incapable of being a good receiver though. It simply means that he did not get the same amount of opportunities to showcase that part of his game.

Washington finished last year with 28 catches, 454 yards, and two touchdowns. His 16.2 yards per reception led all tight ends last season. He finished his career with an incredible average of 17.2 yards per reception. Washington did so with a blend of strength and athleticism. 

Washington is bigger, faster, and stronger than Mayer and Kincaid according to the NFL Combine. Teams are surely going to fall in love with his measurables. He is also a tight end who excels at blocking. Sometimes the term “blocking tight end” is used when it should not be. This is not the case with Washington.

While he is not considered to be a receiving threat, he has a higher quarterback rating when targeted (111.2) than Mayer (106.7). His 16.2 yards per reception are higher than Mayer and Kincaid. What Mayer and Kincaid have over Washington are total catches and yards. Kincaid also has an outstanding 122.8 QB ranking when targeted.

Right now, Pro Football Focus has Washington at 71 overall, which is one of the more outrageous rankings you will find this draft season. NFL.com currently ranks him 34th. NFL Mock Draft Database, currently ranks him 33rd overall. NFL Draft Buzz’s ‘Overall Rank’ places Washington at 35.0. 

If the Bengals do decide to target a tight end in the first round, it must be Washington. That is of course if he is still on the board at 28.

Brayden Willis, Oklahoma

If Cincinnati misses out on Washington or decides to take another route, position-wise, there is another tight end who they should give strong consideration to at the end of the draft. 

Brayden Willis is a great option for the Bengals near the end of the draft. If you are someone who is looking for a “steal” or an “underrated player” at a position of need, look no further than the former Sooner tight end. 

Willis is a relentless run blocker. If these following clips were from offensive linemen, you would not stop hearing about how great he is. 

While at Oklahoma, Willis he showed off his versatility by lining up out wide, inline, as a wing, and fullback. This, along with his ability to run block, pass block, and catch the ball makes him the type of versatile player that teams claim they love. He does not seem like the type of player that should be a seventh-round pick, let alone an un-drafted free agent. 

At 6’4 and 241 pounds, there are concerns about Willis’ ability to hold up as a blocker in the NFL. Those are concerns voiced by those who concentrate strictly on numbers and not what they see on the field.

Willis is strong and smart enough to hold up well in pass protection when lined up in line. He is quick and savvy enough to block safeties, linebackers, and defensive backs on the edge. All film studies done on Willis should quickly assuage any angst when it comes to his ability to block. 

As a receiver, Willis is a lot like Washington. He is not as prolific as Mayer or Kincaid. However, that is not because he can’t do it. It is more a product of a lack of opportunities.

Willis finished last year with 39 catches, 514 yards, and seven touchdowns. His 13.2 yards per reception, while not as impressive as Washington’s 16.2, is better than projected first-rounders Mayer and Kincaid. 

Currently, PFF has Willis at 269th. NFL Mockdraft Database puts his overall ranking at 296th. ESPN is a lot kinder with their ranking of 228 overall. 

If for some odd, inexplicable reason Willis is still on the board at the end of the sixth or seventh round, the Bengals should take a long look at the former Sooner tight end. If Cincinnati has yet to address the tight end position at all or has done so but not with Washington, Willis should be a no-brainer near the end of the draft. 

Other tight ends will fall between Washington and Willis who could fit nicely with what the Bengals like to do on offense. But Washington and Willis are the perfect players for what Cincinnati needs from that position. They just happen to be on opposite sides of the scouts’ rankings. 

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