Dave Lapham In The Trenches, presented by First Star Logistics, looks at the change at the tight end position for the Cincinnati Bengals as C.J. Uzomah signed with the New York Jets leaving a significant gap in the locker room and on the field.

Lapham gives his initial impression on the signing of new tight end Hayden Hurst, a former first-round selection (25th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Hurst signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 2012 MLB draft, turning down a baseball scholarship from Florida State. Hurst's baseball career lasted two seasons before he returned to football, walking onto the South Carolina football team.

After an impressive junior season, Hurst was impressive leading up to the draft, becoming the first tight end selected in the 2018 draft. In 2020, the Ravens sent Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons. During his four-year career, Hurst has played in 57 regular-season games with 18 starts and posted 125 receptions for 1,304-yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Falcons declined to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract after the 2021season with Hurst signing with the Bengals for a one-year deal with a base salary of $1,300.000 and a $2,000,000 signing bonus. Also part of the contract is a roster bonus of $76,466 and a workout bonus of $100,000. The total contract carries a cap hit of $3,476,466.