Tyler Eifert's Contract Option Picked Up by Bengals: Comments and Reaction

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is set to remain with the team through the 2017 season, as the organization picked up his option Wednesday.

The Bengals announced the move on Twitter and ensured that he will not hit free agency following the 2016 campaign.

Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer provided financial terms of the option:

"

Fifth-year option tag for Eifert's spot should settle around $6.2M. Massive bargain considering what he'll command long term.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) April 13, 2016"

The 25-year-old Notre Dame product is set to earn slightly more than $2.6 million in 2016, according to Spotrac.com, and he is coming off a career season.

Eifert set personal bests with 52 receptions for 615 yards and 13 touchdown catches in 13 games. He missed all but one game during the 2014 campaign due to a shoulder injury, but he bounced back in a big way in 2015.

Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is happy with the player Eifert has become thus far:

The 2013 first-round pick was also named to his first career Pro Bowl in 2015, and he figures to be an even bigger part of Cincinnati's offense in 2016 with wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu no longer in the fold.

Aside from superstar wide receiver A.J. Green, Eifert will almost certainly be quarterback Andy Dalton's favorite target, especially in the red zone.

Exercising Eifert's option was a no-brainer from the Bengals' perspective due to his production and affordability, and it will give them even more time to work out a long-term deal.

Eifert has the ability to be one of the premier tight ends in football for a long time if he can remain healthy, and that should lead to a much bigger payday down the line.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.