Why Bengals drafted Jack Endries at 221?

Bengals add Texas TE Jack Endries with No. 221 pick

Cincinnati used the 221st selection of the 2026 NFL Draft to add Texas tight end Jack Endries to its roster.

Endries’ background is tightly linked to traditional TE development pipelines. His college career began at California before ending at Texas, and the Tigers’ coaching staff essentially used his final college stop as the finishing school for NFL traits. The draft pick matters because the Bengals’ selection comes in the context of a broader roster-building effort described around the draft weekend: Cincinnati’s priorities included rebuilding areas on offense after previously identifying weaknesses on defense.

From a personnel perspective, Endries’ value is best viewed as depth and potential role growth at tight end—exactly the type of late-draft investment teams make when they want to add a player who can contribute in training camp while also offering upside if the developmental curve clicks. Tight end is also a position where NFL playbooks can expand quickly if a prospect shows reliable hands, route discipline, and the physicality to handle in-line responsibilities.

In short, the Bengals’ pick of Endries at 221 reflects a low-risk, developmental addition at a position that can affect multiple facets of an offense, including the passing game and short-yardage formations. It also fits the idea of using later-round draft capital to reshape roster balance as the offseason work continues.