Playing for three teams over the past three years, Mike Gesicki has been unable to land a lucrative deal despite being franchise-tagged in 2022. That will change soon for the veteran tight end.
The Bengals have a deal in place to retain Gesicki, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds it is a three-year contract worth $25.5MM. This marks a change of pace for Gesicki, who had signed one-year deals (with the Patriots and Bengals) after his Dolphins franchise tag season.
Cincinnati had gone from C.J. Uzomah to Irv Smith Jr. to Hayden Hurst to Gesicki at tight end over the past four seasons. As his Dolphins days show, Gesicki is the best receiving option out of this group. He showed that form last season, accumulating 665 receiving yards (10.2 per catch) and two touchdowns. This represented an important offseason for Gesicki, who will turn 30 in October. He was running out of time to secure a notable multiyear deal.
Gesicki’s career veered off course after the Dolphins tagged him in 2022. Despite unholstering the tag to keep the productive pass catcher in the fold, Mike McDaniel did not turn to him much in his first season. As Tyreek Hill took over Miami’s passing game, Gesicki shifted to a tertiary role. He went from 780 yards in 2021 to 362 in 2022. That set up a modest 2023 market, as the Patriots added the former second-round pick for just $4.5MM. That checked in well behind what Hurst fetched from the Panthers.
Another substandard season (29 catches, 244 yards) for Gesicki led to a worse 2024 contract — a one-year, $2.5MM Bengals deal. The Penn State product was able to reverse this trend, as the Bengals are committing to keeping Joe Burrow‘s troops in-house. After endless rumors indicating Tee Higgins would leave in 2025, the longtime Cincy No. 2 receiver has been re-tagged while an extension is now planned. Gesicki represents more capital devoted to the team’s pass-catching group, but the Bengals no longer appear likely to pay Trey Hendrickson. The reigning sack king is free to explore trades with the aim of being paid elsewhere.
Never much of a blocker, Gesicki still provided the Bengals with their most receiving yards by a tight end since Jermaine Gresham in 2012. This will give the Bengals a key weapon to keep going alongside Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, though the price is skyrocketing for a team that had Chase and Gesicki on bargain rates last season.
Cool. Now, they won’t have to draft one.
Yeah I saw they re-signed Tanner Hudson yesterday too so it looks like the TE room is set now. Time to beef up the lines and hopefully grab a LB or two.
Nice deal for a depth piece
Crazy this guy has missed 1 game in his 7 year career. Always healthy, big athletic target. Good fit in the Bengals offense
He would have looked good in a Bears uniform but once again they don’t seem to place much value in the position.
Bears fans would’ve loved Gesicki cos he’s a Polish guy.
Lemon- You have to have someone to throw him the ball first. Sorry, but I had to go there.
Kmet is really good, at least. I remember being really impressed with him as a rookie and thinking he had the potential to do exactly what he’s done in Chicago. Really solid pick.
Reminds me of Dallas drafting Ferguson or Green Bay drafting that kid from Ole Miss whose name escapes me at the moment. Those classic TEs are still a huge asset to have.
Great move by both sides. Gesicki finally gets a long term deal, and the Bengals get him for what’s clearly below market value if we’re being honest.
He might not be a blocker but Gesicki is an elite athlete at TE and a very good receiver. A safety valve with serious upside for Burrow even at 30.
They still need to draft a TE. I like Gesicki but he doesn’t impose defenders. Personally if Tyler Warren somehow drops at 17, then I hope Bengals are all over that but I don’t see a snowball chance in hell he’s there at 17.