Joe Burrow’s health issues aside this season, imagine if the Bengals had a top-tier tight end to fit in with their other high-profile players? Their free agency deal for Irv Smith Jr.
didn’t work out, and with all due respect, Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample are just regular players.
With their first-round pick last April, 28th overall, Cincinnati selected Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy.
He played all 17 games but only 28 percent of the defensive snaps as he had 20 total tackles and three sacks.
A defense that has struggled could certainly have used more impact from a first-round rusher, although that lack of playing time is worth noting.
It would be interesting to see LaPorta join Ja’Marr Chase as Burrow’s top target in Cincinnati in the near future.
You can’t blame the Bengals for wanting to add a young piece to their defense in the first round, as picking Jacksonville at No.
60 in the second round may not have been deemed feasible. But the Bengals missed a clear opportunity to add LaPorta to an offense as dangerous as any in the league when he’s at full strength, though taking him in the first round certainly would have been a challenge.
In some mock drafts along the way, they included Kincaid, who he had actually picked three times before.
So until they add a tight end like LaPorta, or come close to it, passing him on will be a shame for Cincinnati and a missing piece in their offense.
