Cincinnati retained tight end Drew Sample on Monday, and the team is now set to make an outside addition at the position. The Bengals have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $3.25MM with Mike Gesicki, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Despite a down year on the franchise tag in 2022 and being trapped in a mess of a Patriots offense last season, Gesicki is not too far removed from quality production in Miami. His 2020 and ’21 seasons prompted the Dolphins to apply the tag; the Bengals will make a low-risk bet on upside to accompany the Sample deal.
More of a slot player than a multipurpose tight end, Gesicki surpassed 700 receiving yards during Tua Tagovailoa‘s first two seasons. Gesicki’s presence during inconsistent Tagovailoa seasons helped influence Mike McDaniel‘s regime to unholster the tag in 2022, and while the Penn State alum did not prove a fit in the 49ers-derived scheme, he has shown quality form — his post-TD Griddy work aside — in the recent past.
Gesicki caught six touchdown passes in 2020 and added a career-high 780 receiving yards the following season. Over the past two years, the former second-round pick has combined for 606 yards. Hence this low-level agreement. Gesicki also did not find much of a market last year, settling for $4.5MM from the Patriots. Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry and Noah Fant fared much better than he did this offseason, suggesting some pessimism on the receiving-oriented TE. The Bengals do offer some hope at a value-reestablishing season.
Barring another addition, Cincinnati will have Gesicki in place as its top receiving tight end. The Bengals have not received Gesicki-level production from a pass-catching tight end since Tyler Eifert‘s non-injury-marred work several years ago, despite the team taking fliers on Hayden Hurst and Irv Smith Jr. following C.J. Uzomah‘s 2022 Jets signing. Uzomah and Hurst are still available, making reunions something to monitor. For now, Cincy is going with a Gesicki-Sample duo.
Eh, I don’t love it. I would rather some blocking ability for both tight ends.
He’s a Polish guy from New Jersey, therefore he’s good.
I have to say my opinion has been completely changed.
He’s trash. Nothing exciting here
Over 11 yards per reception for his career. Not trash. Give him a real qb in burrow and i exoect him to get 700 yatds for the fourth time in his career
I kinda like Mike GeeIsuck@daGriddy for the offense. Just kinda wish they could find some stability at the position instead of one 1Y deal after the next.
Solid TE