​CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 28: Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson (87) walks off the field at halftime during the game against the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 28, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images In recent years, the tight end position has been a revolving door for the Cincinnati Bengals. Once CJ Uzomah left for greener pastures, there were several tight ends that tried to fill the void. The revolving door didn’t close until Mike Gesicki landed in Cincinnati and signed an extension to keep him there for multiple years.There’s been another tight end, though, who has been in the background. He hasn’t been on top of the depth chart, but that hasn’t stopped him from contributing heavily and garnering the trust of Joe Burrow.Tanner HudsonHeight: 6-5Weight: 241 lbs.Age: 31College: Southern ArkansasHometown: Paris, TennesseeExperience: 7 yearsCap StatusHudson signed a one-year contract worth $1.35 million, which included $50,000 guaranteed. His salary counts for less than one percent of the team’s total salary cap. This is the third one-year deal he’s signed with the Bengals.BackgroundHudson started his collegiate career as a quarterback and punter at Memphis before transferring to Southern Arkansas, where he transitioned to tight end. The position change turned out to be the right move, as Hudson became one of Division II’s most productive tight ends. He finished his college career with 143 catches for 2,152 yards and 25 touchdowns, earning first-team All-GAC honors and second-team All-American recognition his senior year.Hudson went undrafted in 2018 and signed as a free agent with the Buccaneers. He spent three seasons bouncing back and forth between the active roster and practice squad, and earned a Super Bowl LV ring. He had brief stops with the 49ers and Giants before the Bengals signed him to their practice squad late in the 2022 season.Hudson emerged as a reliable receiving option for the Bengals in 2023, posting career highs with 39 receptions for 352 yards and his first NFL touchdown. He developed strong chemistry with backup quarterback Jake Browning and has remained a dependable depth piece at the position ever since, catching 19 passes in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.Outlook for 2026The top tight end on the depth chart is Mike Gesicki, but he’s a tight end in name only. He’s more of a slot receiver than a tight end. Drew Sample is going to be above Hudson on the depth chart as well, but he plays as an H-Back as much or more than he does at tight end. Hudson has carved out a nice little space for himself on the Bengals’ roster. He’s not as good of a blocker as Sample, and he’s not the receiver Gesicki is, but he can do both when he’s asked to, and he can do both well.The biggest threat to Hudson in 2026 is Erick All. A local kid, All hasn’t taken a snap since 2024 and has