Bengals Could Use a Tight End, Other Needs Might Keep Them From Drafting One

Even before Chris Henry's po-po meter reached double digits, the Bengals were interested in giving quarterback Carson Palmer another offensive weapon. In addition to wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (not to mention Henry because, well, he's since been released), and running back Rudi Johnson, the team had hinted at adding a pass-catching tight end.

They signed the Colts' Ben Utecht a few weeks ago, but was never more than "the guy behind Dallas Clark" in Indianapolis. That's not entirely his fault -- Clark's pretty good -- but the Bengals are still open to adding another tight end, depending on how the draft unfolds.

Obviously, Cincinnati hopes to address the defensive line with their first-round pick (ninth overall), but Round 2 could be an option:

... [I]f one of those top tight ends in the NFL Draft falls at some point, [Cincinnati] seem ready to pounce. ...

The Trojans' Fred Davis still looks to be the consensus top pick at that spot at the bottom of the first round or early in the second despite a late move by Texas A&M's Martellus Bennett. Notre Dame's John Carlson remains solidly a second-rounder.

Of course, with Henry's departure and the uncertainty at the running back position (Kenny Irons and Chris Perry are both iffy at this point), tight end may not be as big a need as it was, say, two months ago. At least according to Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson who also throws out an interesting Round 1 scenario: "Maybe the Bengals don't think No. 9 is too high for USC linebacker Keith Rivers."

Presumably, this is only if Sedrick Ellis is off the board. Hobson admits "it would ... be a stunner," but if Rivers is the guy, he still fills the team's biggest need: bolstering the front seven.

Even without Henry, the offense will put up points (they did it for eight games last year), and they've been scoring without a tight end since, well, a long time. So while Bennett or Carlson would be a nice addition, at this point, maybe they're more luxury than necessity. Thanks, Chris. Thanks a lot.