NFL Draft: FCS All-American named Day 2 fit for Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals lost tight end, Hayden Hurst, to the Carolina Panthers in free agency, but were able to acquire veteran Irv Smith Jr. as a countermove. With the injury history of Smith, and his deal only being for one year, the Bengals will undoubtedly have snagging a tight end on their to-do list when […]
The Cincinnati Bengals lost tight end, Hayden Hurst, to the Carolina Panthers in free agency, but were able to acquire veteran Irv Smith Jr. as a countermove.
With the injury history of Smith, and his deal only being for one year, the Bengals will undoubtedly have snagging a tight end on their to-do list when the NFL draft rolls around at the end of April.
Well, Pro Football Focus thinks that South Dakota State's Tucker Kraft would be a good fit as a Day 2 pick.
Kraft gives the Bengals another legit separator who can win against man coverage. He’s a fluid receiver who excels after the catch, tallying 25 broken tackles on 92 receptions in the past two seasons.
Tucker redshirted his first year at South Dakota State. He caught seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in the spring 2021 season which got delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tucker would have his best season as a redshirt sophomore when he racked up 780 yards on 65 receptions and six touchdowns which led to first-team All-MVPC and FCS All-American honors.
Unfortunately for Tucker, he suffered an ankle injury last season that cost him five games. However, he still managed to produce 27 receptions for 348 yards and three scores and received first-team All-MVPC and FCS All-American honors once more, and helped South Dakota State win the FCS national championship.
Tucker was extremely versatile in college. He logged 233 snaps in the slot, 78 as an outside receiver, 35 snaps in the backfield, and even register 18 kick return plays according to Pro Football Focus.
He comes in at 6'4" and 254 pounds. Tucker ran a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash, posted a 34-inch vertical jump, and a 10'2" in the broad jump.
Tucker is certainly a player the Bengals should consider in the second or third round.
