Fair, and to that point, I don't think that's what the Bengals are looking for with this offense.
I read somewhere that Taylor indicated that the Bengals would have been in on Kincaid in round 1..... And that they also liked LaPorta. I'm okay with the strategy of the last two years - Sign a bargain guy that wants to jumpstart his carer and have a few other guys that add to the blocking scheme. If you have the receivers that we have, a tight end would be a luxury type of weapon, but there are other priority areas to build.
And in the light of that, if Irv Smith Jr. pans out and with his athletic ability, we already could have a hell of a tight end. Our offense really can be legit if that line blocks well.
I agree. But, if he does have a big year, everyone will have to accept it when he leaves for the bag next offseason. The guy is still really young with a great pedigree. He'll cash in big-time with a productive, healthy season. And, we'll be back on the market for the next rehab project. To be honest, I'm totally fine with this strategy. You have to have bargains at some positions and tight end might just be where we do it.
at some point, you'd think we'd trade for one that would be a long term fit, or trade picks with someone if needed.
A good long term fit at this point is not feasible though, because we have to get the stars on new contracts. They come first, because they form the core, the leadership and the excitement for the fans. Once they are locked in, I can see us trying to find a long term solution at TE. Cheap as she goes right now though until Burrow, Higgins, Chase and Wilson are locked up.
If one falls to you at the draft, then that works, but signing a cheap guy on a 1 year flip deal, while continuing to be patient for the right fit in the draft is a solid strategy. As you pointed out, with Higgins, Boyd, Chase - and the RB's (more passes were caught last year by RB's than TE) - the TE is a bit of a luxury at this point.
I think when Kuntz fell to the 6th, we should have taken him. The fact we didn't wind up with a 6'7 255 pound TE that runs a 4.61 - 40 is just stupid. At that point you are drafting athletic ability and hoping you hit a gem by being able to train them into being a fundamentally sound player.
Hard to disagree on that...
I don't know about Kuntz.... I've read all about his freakish talent, but for a guy to test like that and be passed over by all of these teams, there has to be something that isn't translating to the field. It's always good to bet on athletic talent, but I see him as much less a sure thing than the punter we drafted and we desperately need.
Yeah, he fell for a reason. He has a lot of measurables, but his tape is very "meh". His combine notes his lack of pass-catching ability, his inability to make contested catches, as well his struggles in release against tight coverage and at the top of his route. He lacks mass and strength, but has the frame to put on weight and strength. That would take some time, though.
Oh, I was never saying he was a sure thing. I was saying he is an athletic freak, scored a 10 out of 10 on the RAS. That late in the draft, you have needs, you take a flyer and hope you are able to get him into a fundamentally sound football player. My guess is he was not a fantastic blocker, he probably had bad routes, may have had some sketchy hands, no idea. Athletically he was there.
Smith was also injured and was their backup, IIRC.
I fully agree with you. The difference is Mays was a 2nd round pick, Kuntz was available in the 6th round. Just saying, while I fully agree with you, there is a difference on a lottery pick versus a guy you are taking a chance on in the first couple rounds.
