Bengals Hosting Local Tight End Talent For Visit Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Cincinnati is looking to bolster its tight end position ahead of the upcoming draft.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:20pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-catch, with sharp planes of orange and black representing the Bengals' team colors and the dynamic action of the play.A cubist interpretation of a Bengals tight end making a crucial catch, reflecting the team's desire to add more playmaking ability to its offense.Cincinnati Today

The Cincinnati Bengals are hosting former Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Joe Royer for a pre-draft visit this weekend. Royer, who set the UC school record for receptions by a tight end in 2024, is projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and could be a target for the Bengals, who are seeking to add more leadership and playmaking ability to their offense.

Why it matters

The Bengals are looking to build on their recent success and make another deep playoff run. Adding a talented tight end like Royer, who has strong leadership skills and production history, could help bolster their passing attack and provide a reliable target for quarterback Joe Burrow.

The details

Royer, who played his college football at the University of Cincinnati, is ranked 153rd on the consensus big board and ninth among tight ends according to the Mock Draft Database. In 2024, he set the UC school record for a tight end with 50 receptions for 521 yards and three touchdowns. Royer followed that up with a strong 2025 season, earning third-team All-Big 12 honors after starting all 13 games and catching 29 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns.

  • Royer is visiting the Bengals this weekend, April 11-13, 2026.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23-25, 2026.

The players

Joe Royer

A former tight end for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Royer set the school record for receptions by a tight end in 2024 and is projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Duke Tobin

The Bengals' director of player personnel, who has expressed a need for more leadership and accountability on the defensive side of the ball.

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What they’re saying

“I see growth in a 24-year-old Myles Murphy and young corners who have taken the jump, and Jordan Battle, who has taken the jump. The one thing we really need is we need those guys or somebody else to take on a leadership role and demand the accountability and demand the execution. We need more leadership. We have tons of leadership on the offensive side of the ball. We need somebody, multiple people, to step up and lead that group from within our team. And it could come from the outside, and it could come from the inside. We can get improvement from both of those areas. We can get improvement and play from the inside, which I see happening, and we can get improvement from the outside, be it the draft or free agency or however we want to attack it.”

— Duke Tobin, Director of player personnel

What’s next

The Bengals will continue to evaluate Royer and other tight end prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which takes place April 23-25.

The takeaway

The Bengals' pre-draft visit with Joe Royer highlights their desire to add more leadership and playmaking ability to their offense, particularly at the tight end position. Royer's strong production and leadership skills make him an intriguing mid-round target for a Cincinnati team looking to build on its recent success.