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Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cincinnati Bengals Urged to Add Another Elite Weapon for Joe Burrow

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated 3/26/24

The Cincinnati Bengals are out to issue a stark reminder to the rest of the NFL that this is a Super Bowl-caliber roster with a healthy Joe Burrow and an elite supporting cast.

After all, the Bengals enter the 2024 campaign just two years removed from a Super Bowl berth, and neither Burrow nor Tee Higgins was fully healthy during a lackluster 2023 season.

Cincinnati has fortified the line of scrimmage and added some legitimate playmakers in the secondary, but could look to the NFL Draft to further bolster Burrow’s arsenal in the passing game.

How Can Cincinnati Bengals Help Joe Burrow in NFL Draft?

Bringing back Tee Higgins, and elite playmaking wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is a strong foundation for the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense to bounce back with Burrow leading the charge next season.

However, adding a reliable pass-catching tight end who is a weapon after the catch could throw head coach Zac Taylor’s playbook wide open and create even more big-play opportunities for Burrow.

That’s how things play out in Pro Football Focus’ latest NFL Mock Draft, which projects the Bengals to select Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“It may come as a shock to see Bowers fall this far on draft night,” Brad Spielberger writes for PFF. “But last year’s highly touted tight end class didn’t see a player come off the board until the Buffalo Bills traded up to the No. 25 overall pick to select Dalton Kincaid. Unlike last year, however, the tight end depth is not nearly as strong, which could push Bowers up the board since teams may view him as the one true high-level prospect at the position in the class.

“Bowers has a case as the best tight end in college football history, but he may bring some size concerns in his transition to the NFL game. Cincinnati hasn’t had a top tight end since Tyler Eifert, and adding another pass catcher also makes sense following wideout Tee Higgins‘ trade request this offseason.”

Brock Bowers NFL Draft Scouting Report

There’s little doubt that Brock Bowers would fill a pressing need for the Bengals and he would certainly benefit from the space created by Chase and Higgins stretching the field on the perimeter.

Last season, Bowers, 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds caught 56 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 12.8 yards per reception. That kind of production would be a welcomed addition to the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense.

Imagine dropping George Kittle into an offense with Joe Burrow behind center, because that’s the exact comparison NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein makes to Bowers’ skill-set.

“Prolific pass-catching tight end with a rare blend of acceleration, speed, body control and hands that could breathe new life into a stale NFL offense,” Zierlein writes for NFL.com. “Bowers was a high-volume target at Georgia and led the team in receiving yards in all three of his college seasons. He plays with relentless pacing as a route runner, allowing him to beat man coverage. Also, he’s highly effective at exploiting zone pockets for first downs and chunk plays.

“Bowers’ secret sauce might be his ability to rip through tacklers and pile on yardage after the catch. He’ll be an adequate move blocker and give effort at the point of attack, but that is the one area where his game falls short of George Kittle’s, for comparison purposes. Bowers is an explosive athlete but lacks the premium measurables typically associated with early first-rounders. It might take a year for him to acclimate to defenders who are bigger, faster and longer, but he appears destined to become a highly productive NFL player with Pro Bowl upside.”

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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