Despite drafting a tight end in the third round in last years' NFL draft, it appears that the Bengals are not content to stand pat at the position. Reports out of Stanford's pro day indicate that tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes was on hand at the event, checking out Stanford product Zach Ertz.
In total, 12 players participated in the workout, including Ertz and another tight end, Levine Toilolo. Of the two, Ertz has the chance to be drafted higher, possibly even near the end of the first round. In front of the scouts, he clocked a 4.62 40-yard dash and had a solid 35.5" vertical jump. Moreover, he also "looked very smooth in his routes" during position drills and displayed natural hands. The Bengals already have a similar tight end on their roster in Jermaine Gresham, but he will be a free agent at the end of the 2014 season, so it doesn't hurt for the team to explore all options. Still, barring a trade back or some sort of cataclysmic event in which every player at a position of need is drafted before the Bengals pick at 21, Ertz is unlikely to don the stripes.
Far more likely, however, is Toilolo, who is more of a blocking tight end at 6'8" and 259 pounds. The Bengals are definitely in the market for a blocker at the position and Toilolo's size is ideal for the role. On Thursday, Toilolo ran a 4.77 40-yard dash and also benched 225 pounds 19 times (pretty good for a guy with 34.5" arms), proving he has the measurables to succeed in the NFL as well.