Bengals may look into Anthony Fasano after considering him in 2006 draft

The Bengals have already set up a visit with James Casey after Philadelphia cut him, and they could target another tight end who was just released in Anthony Fasano.

The nine-year veteran was on tap to make $2.8 million next season, and Fasano finished his two-year run in Kansas City with 48 catches for 426 yards and seven touchdowns over 26 games. The Chiefs will save $1.96 million with the move, per OverTheCap.com, and they simply weren't going to pay him that with Travis Kelce ascending into a big role on the offense.

Butch Hobson put out an interesting little nugget this week on how the Bengals could be interested in Fasano, and how they may have drafted him in 2006 over stalwart left tackle Andrew Whitworth, had he still been on the board.

One intriguing name is former Cowboys and Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano, cut by Kansas City this week. The Bengals coveted Fasano coming out of Notre Dame in 2006 and it would have been an interesting call if he was there at No. 55 in the second round.

But the Cowboys grabbed him at No. 53 and the Bengals went with Whitworth, a linchpin since that draft.

Since 2006, Whitworth has not only been the best Bengals lineman, but also among the best in football at times. He was Pro Football Focus' third-best lineman in 2014, and was their No. 9 overall player in 2013.

Fasano, 30, has logged 109 starts over nine seasons with the Cowboys, Dolphins and Chiefs while cracking 400 yards in just three seasons and never topping 528 yards.

He's not going to be a good No. 1 tight end, but he'd more than be suitable in a No. 2 role behind Tyler Eifert in Cincinnati. Then again, he was a bad run-blocker this past season (10.5) via Pro Football Focus after grading out very well in every prior year.

The Bengals are going to want their No. 2 guy to be a good run-blocker, so if they think Fasano can rekindle his pre-2014 form, he'd be a great addition.