The Bengals’ tackle-tackle start to the 2015 draft, which produced Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, did not pan out. Both are free agents coming off mediocre tenures in Cincinnati. The latter, however, is planning an interesting rebranding strategy.
Fisher has been running routes with NFL quarterbacks this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and is trying to start anew as a blocking tight end. Teams have shown interest and want to put him through workouts come free agency, RapSheet adds. Fisher, 25, has dropped down to 285 pounds.
This sounds like a wild experiment, but Fisher does have a tight end background. Prior to his days at Oregon, he was an acclaimed tight end in high school. He was a full-time offensive lineman, going from guard to tackle, with the Ducks.
With the Bengals, Fisher only saw one season as a primary starter — 2017, which featured a season-ending injury after eight games. He ended the 2018 season on IR as well, which stands to limit his options in free agency. But it looks like the 6-foot-6 blocker will try to show teams another feature of his game when the market opens.
I would imagine that Fisher can handle the blocking duties of a blocking tight end and receiving responsibilities. Blocking TEs normally only catch like 8 balls a year and on all 8 plays they are the release value or 5th option.
Wonder how many teams have failed miserably on their 1st and 2nd round picks in the same draft?