Notre Dame’s Eifert lands with Bengals
By PAUL SIEGFRIED
ISL Correspondent
The Cincinnati Bengals made Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert their top pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft, choosing him 21st overall.
Eifert was expected to be selected in the first round, but had not been connected with the Bengals. His name had been associated more with the Giants, Cowboys, Bears and Falcons. The John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top tight end in 2012, Eifert caught 133 passes with nine touchdowns in the last two years.
The pick by the Bengals was a bit of a surprise since they already have Pro Bowl tight end Jermaine Gresham already on the roster. Gresham, a first-round pick in 2010, caught 64 passes for 737 yards and five scores last season as he earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection. Cincinnati likely is following the pattern of the New England Patriots, who have been successful with a two-tight end offense with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
