With the No. 21 overall pick pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert. Eifert is the No. 19 player in the draft ranking from SB Nation's Dan Kadar and the top-rated tight end.
2013 NFL Draft results: Tyler Eifert selected by Bengals at No. 21
The Bengals used the No. 21 overall pick to select Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
One Foot Down on Tyler Eifert
Eifert won the Mackey Award after a senior season in which he caught 50 passes for 685 yards for Notre Dame. There's no denying his production or his frame, but he struggled mightily when blocking for running backs. In the pass-happy NFL, he should be able to gloss over that minor deficiency and contribute as a big Red Zone target in the passing game. Eifert played three seasons at Notre Dame where he caught 140 passes for 1,840 yards and 11 touchdowns. After being a finalist or the Mackey Award in 2011, he won the honor in 2012. He was the Fighting Irish’s top receiving threat last year and often lined up as a wide receiver as well as at tight end. He is a great pass-catcher and, while he needs work at blocking, he’s a better blocker than he gets credit for.
The Bengals continue to surround Andy Dalton with receivers to help move the ball down the field by adding Eifert. They already have Jermaine Gresham, another former first-round pick, and Eifert could give the Bengals a duo similar to what the Patriots have in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
Gresham has been the team’s starting tight end since he was a rookie. Eifert may not dethrone him, but could play along side him if the Bengals run duel tight end sets. Either way, Eifert will likely get a lot of playing time early in his rookie year.
Combine results
Height: 6’5
Weight: 250 lbs.
Hand size: 9.13 inches
40-yard dash: 4.68 seconds
Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
The way Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham have completely reshaped their respective offenses, teams are looking for tight ends that can help them do the same. Eifert has the potential to be a red zone mismatch with his size and strength and could make an immediate impact in the NFL.
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