With the Cincinnati Bengals having an opening at tight end via free agency, they opted to pursue a well-known veteran who was available for 2024.
Mike Gesicki is a familiar face in the AFC East. But it’s time for Bengals fans and the rest of the league to get to know more about him.
Who Is New Bengals Tight End Mike Gesicki?
Again, those NFL fans who watch games on the East Coast are more than likely familiar with Gesicki.
But for the first time in his career, he’s heading out of the AFC East. He arrives in Cincinnati after the Bengals lost Irv Smith Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Gesicki spent his first five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Miami drafted him out of Penn State in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, 42nd overall. He spent 2023 with the New England Patriots in what became his only campaign in Foxborough.
The 6’6″, 245-pounder has long been nestled on the Atlantic Coast. He’s a native of Lakewood, New Jersey. He also attended Penn State, where he earned playing time in all four seasons.
His breakout campaign in State College was in 2017. He grabbed 57 receptions for 563 yards and scored nine touchdowns — all elevating him into the conversation of the nation’s best tight ends.
Gesicki’s Contract Details
So what are the Bengals paying Gesicki?
Cincinnati has handed him a one-year deal worth $2.5 million, which comes off as a “prove it” deal.
Also included in the deal, per Spotrac: Gesicki is getting a base salary of $1.5 million for 2024. His deal includes a $400,000 roster bonus. He’s additionally carrying a cap hit of $2.5 million with a dead cap value of $400,000.
Is this the most money Gesicki has received in an NFL contract? There was a time when he was making more with Miami.
After playing out a four-year rookie deal worth more than $6.6 million, Gesicki went on to play on the $10.9 million franchise tag in 2022.
With New England, Gesicki earned $4.5 million for one year. That deal included a $2.4 million signing bonus.
Gesicki’s Career Stats
After becoming a huge star for the Nittany Lions, has Gesicki ever been a Pro Bowler?
Gesicki has never established himself as a full-season starter. Including the Pats, he’s never started in more than 10 contests each season.
However, he has proved to be a reliable presence all over the field, including as a red-zone threat, due to his size.
Gesicki has caught 260 passes for 2,861 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in his six NFL seasons. He’s produced three seasons of 50 or more catches from 2019 to 2021 in Miami.
KEEP READING: Cincinnati Bengals News, March 23
His best season was the ’21 campaign. While being targeted 112 times, Gesicki snatched 73 passes for 780 yards and scored twice. Both his reception and receiving yardage totals that season were career-best.
As a Patriot, Gesicki only grabbed 29 receptions for 244 yards and averaged a career-low 8.4 yards per catch. He crossed the goal line only twice.
Gesicki may not be the most intriguing or dominating TE in this free agency class. But he’s giving Joe Burrow and company some needed length and a strong red-zone presence. Plus he’s adding veteran expertise in the TE room.
Every move. Every team. Don’t miss a thing with PFN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker.