AFC North Notes: Gesicki, Bengals, Steelers, Garrett

The Bengals are interested in re-signing tight end Mike Gesicki before free agency, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The team was “very happy” with his performance last season and “would like to pay” him, per Fowler. The tight end market is projected to reach $8MM per year, which would be a significant raise on Gesicki’s 2024 salary of $2.5MM.

Gesicki caught 65 of his 83 targets for 665 yards and two touchdowns in his debut season in Cincinnati. His 78.3% catch rate and 62.7% success rate were both career-highs by significant margins, indicating that he was a strong fit in the Bengals offense.

The seven-year veteran certainly benefitted from the attention drawn by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but he was able to capitalize in a way other Bengals tight ends haven’t in recent years. In fact, Gesicki is the team’s first tight end to eclipse 600 receiving yards in a season since Tyler Eifert in 2015.

If Gesicki remains in Cincinnati, Juwan Johnson and Tyler Conklin will be the top tight ends in free agency. Their stock should improve with another option off the market, especially if Gesicki negotiates a strong deal with the Bengals.

• Changes are coming to the Bengals linebacker room. Germaine Pratt is expected to leave Cincinnati this offseason, leaving Logan Wilson as the only returning starter. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the Combine that the team was “looking at” the position and specifically mentioned tackling as an area of improvement, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• The Bengals may also adjust their safety usage in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Al Golden. Jordan Battle could be in line for a starting role after a strong finish to the season. “I think Jordan Battle really hit the ground running at the end of the season, and so I’m pleased with the direction that he’s headed,” said head coach Zac Taylor (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.). “I’ve got a lot of confidence in him moving forward.” That may not necessarily mean a step back for Geno Stone, who started all 17 games in 2020. He was considered a potential cap casualty, but the Bengals are poised to carry him into 2025. Golden said that the current safety room was “a great starting point,” per Dehner, but didn’t rule out an addition at the position.
• The Steelers have long been expected to re-sign one of their starting quarterbacks from last season. Justin Fields is still considered the favorite to return to Pittsburgh over Russell Wilson, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Fields is younger and may have more future upside for a Steelers offense that is desperately searching for stability under center.
• The Combine has a history of accelerating trade talks, a trend that continued this year with multiple teams agreeing to deals in Indianapolis. The Browns, however, did not engage in any negotiations for Myles Garrett, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Cleveland has been resolute in their opposition to moving Garrett since his trade request, and the two sides seem headed for a prolonged standoff.