Tyler Eifert is staying put.
The fifth-year tight end will sign a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that Eifert’s new contract has a maximum value of $8 million. Eifert has played the entirety of his career in Cincy.
Bengals’ TE Tyler Eifert reached agreement on a one-year deal and is staying in Cincinnati, per league source. Top available TE off the board.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2018
Cincinnati Bengals Re-Signing Tight End Tyler Eifert to One-Year Deal
Injury severely limited Eifert last year as he was limited to just two appearances. The Bengals announced in October that he would undergo season-ending back surgery and placed him on injured reserve. It marked the second straight season that Eifert dealt with a back injury as he played in eight games and made only two starts the year before.
The 27-year-old’s most impressive season in the NFL to date came in 2015. He proved to be a massive red zone weapon with his 13 touchdown catches leading all tight ends that year. Eifert made the Pro Bowl as a result, his lone appearance in the game to date.
Much like 2017 and to a lesser extent 2016, Eifert’s second season in the league (2014) was marred by injury. He suffered a dislocated elbow in the Bengals’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. As a result, the team put him on injured reserve and he ended up missing the entirety of the season.
Eifert competed for tight end reps with Jermaine Gresham during his rookie year. The two finished with similar totals in receptions, yardage and touchdown catches. Eifert registered 39 catches for 445 yards and two touchdowns while Gresham edged him slightly in all three categories (46 catches, 458 yards, four touchdowns).
The Bengals thought highly enough of Eifert’s talent that they made him a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He went 21st overall after an impressive collegiate career at Notre Dame. He earned First-Team All-American honors in 2012, a season that saw the Fighting Irish make it all the way to the National Title Game. Eifert forewent his final season of eligibility and declared for the draft afterward.
