Reggie Kelly - unsigned. Ben Utecht and J.P. Foschi - released and unemployed. All three tight ends that were once Bengals, are no longer. In Kelly's case, his contract expired. In Utecht's case, he was released after suffering a major concussion. In Foschi's case, the Bengals didn't bother to tender him (boy that doesn't sound right). So you search, wondering just what the makeup of the team's roster is at tight end. There they are. I found them. Daniel Coats, Chase Coffman, Darius Hill. Once more. Daniel Coats, Chase Coffman, Darius Hill. I'm not feeling it. Are you feeling it? I'm not feeling it. Are you sure we found them?
One could argue right then and there, the Bengals most desperate need during the 2010 NFL Draft is tight ends. No kidding, Josh. Strictly looking at the roster right now, debating the merits of tight ends that can't block or can't catch, sure, tight end is a problem. Add another variable to the equation. Reggie Kelly will more than likely return. Chase Coffman could be further along than we're being led to believe. And finally a point that's been made countless times; the Bengals want blockers for tight end, not game-changing receivers. Historically, that's true. Philosophically, that appears true. But once he returns, the Bengals have that with Kelly and will have the hands with Coffman; if everyone is willing to let him develop.
If the Bengals elect to draft a tight end in the first two rounds, then they have their top three prospects. According to Joe Reedy, the Bengals have asked for medical files on tight ends "Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, Florida’s Aaron Hernandez and Pittsburgh’s Dorin Dickerson."
In terms of evaluating tight ends, it appears as if the Bengals have zeroed in on three prospects — Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, Florida’s Aaron Hernandez and Pittsburgh’s Dorin Dickerson. According to a league source, the Bengals have requested the medical files from all three prospects.