Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, architect of one of the NFL’s most devastating offenses, sounds like the rocket man who has just been handed another tool for a scheme that runs on high-octane options.

“He gives you even more flexibility. You’ve got a player that’s really a plus player in both the run and the pass,” Taylor said. “At the point of attack, blocking out of the backfield for protection he can help you, but also really explosive as a receiver.”

Before Thursday’s practice, Taylor couldn’t say his name because the deal had yet to signed. Noah Fant, the tight end who could not be named, signed later in the day in time to make his first walkthrough and installed as quarterback Joe Burrow’s next option.

“It’s a great offense to be in,” said Fant after signing a one-year deal. “Great coaches. When I took my visit (last week), I really liked the conversations I had. It will be a good fit.”

This deal is all about fit. It not only has Taylor upbeat with possibilities, but it also has a player personnel department looking almost like the cat that swallowed the proverbial canary. It not only inked 65-catch tight end Mike Gesicki to a three-year deal back in March, but it just snagged a 27-year-old former first-round pick as one of his running mates.

“When you look back after the season and you didn’t even know who was going to be in this tight end room,” said assistant general manager Steven Radicevic, “and now to have both Mike and Noah, you’ve got to feel pretty about that.”

In Gesicki and Fant, the Bengals have two of the most productive tight ends of the 2020s with strikingly similar numbers. With 260 catches, Fant is seventh among tight ends with catches in the decade. Gesicki has 252. With 2,754 yards, Gesicki, who is treated like a wide receiver by many defenses, has the 10th most yards among tight ends. Fant is next with 2,743.

Ever since their prized rookie tight end, Erick All Jr., was ruled out of this season with an ACL injury, the Bengals have been trying to replicate how he complemented the receiver-ish Gesicki and the blocker Drew Sample.