Mitchell Tinsley

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		17	8	116	2
2025		17	8	116	2
2024		3	6	45	0
2023		2

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bengals snagged a legitimate steal with Mitchell Tinsley's one-year, $1.1M deal, earning a B+ CVI that reflects excellent value for a rotational wide receiver. At just over $1M annually, Cincinnati is paying backup money for a player who's proven capable of contributing meaningful snaps in their receiver rotation — a price point that's become increasingly rare in today's inflated wideout market. The short-term structure is pure upside for the franchise, giving them a cost-controlled asset who can step up when injuries inevitably hit their receiving corps without any long-term financial commitment. Tinsley's production tier as a rotational player perfectly matches what you'd want from a depth piece, and getting that reliability at this salary represents the kind of shrewd roster building that championship teams execute. This signing exemplifies how smart front offices can still find value in the margins, securing depth that won't break the bank while maintaining flexibility for bigger moves down the road.

Performance Analysis

Mitchell Tinsley is a second-year wide receiver on the Bengals' depth chart, still searching for consistent opportunity after 17 career games. His overall grade sits at a D, reflecting a player who hasn't yet translated raw ability into reliable production. At 26, his development window is narrowing, but flashes of upside remain worth monitoring. The one genuine bright spot is his yards-per-reception mark of 14.5, which clears the NFL average of 12.70 and suggests real ability to generate yards after contact or attack intermediate routes. However, his 6.82 receiving yards per game is alarmingly below the NFL average of 50.00, exposing a severe lack of targets and offensive integration. His TD rate of 0.12 per game similarly trails the league average of 0.30, reinforcing that Tinsley simply isn't a featured part of the game plan yet. His season grades tell a concerning story — a C- in 2023 has slid to consecutive F grades in 2024 and 2025, signaling regression rather than the upward trajectory you want from a young receiver. A player like Tinsley, with functional route-running efficiency but almost no volume, profiles as a fringe roster contributor unless Cincinnati's scheme carves out a defined role. Watch for whether he earns trust in training camp, because without a volume jump next season, his NFL tenure is genuinely at risk.

Current Sentiment

Mitchell Tinsley enters the 2026 season as one of the more intriguing depth-chart stories in Cincinnati, having generated genuine buzz with a standout multi-touchdown performance against the Commanders that drew direct praise from head coach Zac Taylor. The positive momentum extends beyond the field, as Tinsley has cultivated a favorable public image through community involvement, including speaking engagements and youth football combine appearances that signal a player invested in his brand and longevity. Media coverage heading into the new season is notably warm for a player of his roster standing, with narratives framing him as a determined longshot fighting to carve out a permanent NFL role. His statistical footprint remains modest, and he has yet to accumulate the volume of production that would elevate him to a reliable starter conversation, meaning his perception is still largely driven by potential and isolated flashes rather than sustained output. If Tinsley can build on his late-season momentum and secure a more defined role in Cincinnati's offense, the foundation of goodwill he has established with fans, media, and coaching staff positions him well for a breakout perception shift in 2026.