Heading into free agency with a requirement to bolster their tight end squad, the Bengals seem to be close to completing the restocking process for this position. The team’s 2024 tight end lineup is poised to resemble that of 2023.
According to a tweet from ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, after retaining Drew Sample, the Bengals have reached an agreement to re-sign Tanner Hudson. Hudson has agreed to a one-year deal, finalizing the move on a Friday. Having initially joined the Bengals in 2023, Hudson is coming off a highly productive season as a receiver.
In addition to Hudson and Sample, the Bengals will add Mike Gesicki from outside the team. While there is a possibility of a rookie supplementing this trio, the Bengals seem content with their top three tight ends already under contract. Gesicki is expected to provide the greatest receiving threat among the three, with Sample excelling in blocking duties. Despite the availability of Hayden Hurst and C.J. Uzomah, the Bengals are largely adhering to their 2023 plan for tight ends.
Hudson, an undrafted free agent from Southern Arkansas, surprisingly emerged as the leading receiver among Bengals tight ends. Initially signed to the practice squad in December 2022, Hudson earned a spot on the team after committing to a reserve/futures deal but didn’t make the final cut in 2023. He was later promoted from the practice squad and outperformed the team’s other tight ends in yardage last season, despite competition from Irv Smith Jr., with a margin of almost 200 yards. Prior to this, Hudson had never surpassed 150 receiving yards in a single season.
Unlike in the past, the Bengals have chosen not to invest heavily in the tight end position, opting for low-cost one-year deals with Hurst and Smith. Sample recently signed a three-year contract worth $10.5 million. Considering Joe Burrow’s status as the league’s highest-paid player and Tee Higgins being on a franchise tag, the Bengals are making prudent financial decisions in other areas. This is evident from their recent move of restructuring Joe Mixon’s contract and subsequently trading him to the Texans, while bringing in Zack Moss on a more cost-effective deal.
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