Breaking down Bengals’ selection of Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan in Round 6

The Bengals finally invested in a tight end (again!) in the draft, and they may have found a gem.

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t drafted a player at the tight end position in the past couple of years but have made up for it in the 2024 class.

After grabbing Iowa’s Erick All in the fourth round, Cincinnati pounced on Arizona pass catcher Tanner McLachlan in the sixth round.

Suddenly, one of the weaker position groups on the roster has become extremely crowded. Mike Gesicki, the re-signed Drew Sample, and Tanner Hudson headlined the group heading into the weekend, and with All and McLachlan in the fold, it suddenly becomes a pretty talented group with high upside.

What are the Bengals getting in McLachlan?

McLachlan is tabbed as one of the most well-rounded players in his position in this class. Matt Miller of ESPN gushed about his route-running ability while also questioning about how a player of his caliber was available in the sixth round.

He is fluid in his routes, has strong hands, and works the middle of the field well. His instincts for the position are high, and actually has decent speed with a 4.61 40-yard dash time.

McLachlan also is an able blocker in pass protection, but not so much in the run game. McLachlan tested as a slightly above-average athlete for the position, but it’s his instincts and savviness in finding space that mostly excels in his profile.

According to PFF, McLachlan logged 110 snaps in the slot last season and 104 more in 2022.

What will McLachlan do for the Bengals?

McLachlan will bring a well-rounded skill set to a position group that sorely needs it. Gesicki can act almost as a big slot receiver at times, while McLachlan is more of a traditional, old-school tight end.

He may also prove to bring immense value from where he was drafted. On a recent media conference call that I was on with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, the draft analyst actually had McLachlan as his TE2 in this class, behind Brock Bowers.

With the ability to be an effective pass protector and chain-mover in the middle of the field, the hope is that he will quickly become one of Joe Burrow’s most trusted targets in the system. Furthermore, with the edge and physicality McLachlan plays with, the Bengals may have found a great fit in their offense when facing the rough-and-tumble AFC North defenses that comprise nearly a third of the annual schedule.

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