Bengals Training Camp Preview: TE
Players:
88. Mike Gesicki
89. Drew Sample
87. Tanner Hudson
84. Tanner McLachlan
85. Cam Grandy
86. Kole Taylor
83. Erick All
The Bengals, for the first time in a little while, will enter a season with some continuity at the TE position. They made sure to re-sign Mike Gesicki in the offseason, and the rest of the crew also remains under contract, with just one outside addition being made.
Gesicki enters the year as the “starter.” I use quotations because there will be a timeshare at the position. Gesicki will mostly be used as a pass catcher, and a heavy portion of his snaps will come out of the slot. Behind Chase and Higgins, the veteran TE may end up being the third option in the passing attack, and I’m hopeful that the Bengals can get him more involved in the redzone than they did last season.
Gesicki generally isn’t relied on much to block, which is why he will be splitting snaps. Though we may also see more 2 TE sets. Sample currently projects to be the blocking TE, and may also see some reps as a FB or H-Back. Although he doesn’t contribute much as a pass catcher, Sample is one of the better blocking TE’s in the league, which is why the staff has kept him around for so long, despite not living up to his 2nd round draft position.
Grandy, a 2024 UDFA signing, got some run on the roster last season, and like Sample, primarily served as a blocker. He impressed, and figures to have a shot at cracking the roster. Sample has no guaranteed money left on his deal, and is making over $3M. If the Bengals weren’t sitting on so much cap space at this point in the offseason, I’d speculate as to whether or not Gesicki can supplant the veteran. But with money not being an issue, Grandy will likely have to fight for a depth role or possibly a spot on the practice squad.
The conversation with Grandy is an interesting one, because the other guys fighting for those depth spots are all pass catchers before blockers. But is the role valued enough to keep a second blocking TE over another player with more offensive upside?
Hudson is the other veteran of the group. Once a preseason darling, he worked his way up to a rotational role on offence. Despite playing behind Gesicki last season, he still had a role. His spot isn’t guaranteed, but he is generally reliable, even if that fumble in week 1 from last season is stuck in people’s minds. This should give him a leg up. If he makes it, I’d expect him to be the next pass catching TE behind Gesicki.
McLachlan is the wildcard here. He was a rookie last season, and played very sparingly, spending much of the season as a healthy scratch. I was bullish on him as a draft prospect, and still love the pass catching upside that he brings. It is very unlikely he jumps to the top in year 2. However, if he can take a step forward, he has the talent to overtake Hudson on the depth chart, and slowly see his role enhanced. I’m excited to watch him compete.
Taylor is a rookie UDFA. He had strong hands and good body control as a pass catcher. However, he is the fastest or quickest guy at his position. The Bengals have enough depth at TE that he is likely fighting for a spot on the practice squad.
Erick All rounds out the group. Under different circumstances, he’d be much higher on the depth chart, but him being listed here now is a formality more than anything else. After suffering a torn ACL last season, complications arose that had to be dealt with. Reports have indicated that he is likely to miss the entire 2025 season. As a result, he’ll end up on an injury list.
