The Cincinnati Bengals figure to attack tight end and running back this offseason and that has been reflected in the team’s approach to the scouting combine.
Cincinnati has met with a ton of tight ends and now news about meetings with running backs continues to emerge.
Speaking at the combine, UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet confined he met formally with the Bengals, per Luke Sawhook.
Considered a second-round prospect, if not higher, Charbonnet scored 11 touchdowns with Michigan in 2019 before making his way to UCLA, where he put up stunning numbers. In 2021, he ran for 1,137 yards and 13 scores (5.6 average) and in 2020 he ran for 1,359 with 14 (7.0).
While we can file this under the due diligence column, it’s still notable to see the Bengals brush shoulders with the draft’s top backs and a possible zone-read prospect capable of playing all three downs.
The future with Joe Mixon is an unknown and it’s not a secret the team needs improved play from the backfield. Nabbing a true three-down back like Charbonnet, even if it costs a first-rounder, might be something the team elects to do.
