The Cincinnati Bengals lost tight end Hayden Hurst to free agency on Wednesday, putting the team in a tough spot for a market starting to pick up speed.
Those Bengals don’t have anyone of note under contract on the depth chart at the position as of this writing, so it continues to be a hot topic of discussion.
The unlikely possibility of a Hurst return, plus the empty depth chart, is why plenty of mocks have the team drafting a tight end in the first round. But the front office will surely offset that with at least one signing on the open market — and presumably soon.
Here’s a look at some of the best tight ends left on the market the Bengals should consider, with an emphasis on a Hurst-level player who could start right away in case they don’t draft one early.