Bengals continue their revolving door operation at tight end by agreeing to terms with Mike Gesicki

The Cincinnati Bengals begin day two of legal tampering by filling another major hole on their starting lineup. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bengals are signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal worth up to $3.25 million. Gesicki, a former second-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, spent the 2023 season with the […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Mike Gesicki
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The Cincinnati Bengals begin day two of legal tampering by filling another major hole on their starting lineup.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bengals are signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal worth up to $3.25 million.

Gesicki, a former second-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, spent the 2023 season with the New England Patriots after playing his first five years in the league with the Miami Dolphins. The 28-year old has amassed 260 catches for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns in 98 career games played.

Bengals go against their word in addressing tight end

While there's definite value in adding Gesicki to the Bengals' offense for such a low cost, the fact that he's arriving on a one-year deal means the Bengals still lack long-term stability at the starting role, Drew Sample's three-year deal as TE2 notwithstanding.

Hayden Hurst and Irv Smith Jr. were also one year experiments, and now Gesicki follows. 

Director of player personnel Duke Tobin addressed the constant turnover at the position a couple weeks ago at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“There has been a revolving door,” Tobin said in Indianapolis. “That’s not what we’re looking for. It’s what’s been presented to us in our estimation as the best way forward. We’ll continue to evaluate that, but we want guys, like every other team wants guys. We want guys that can block. We want guys that can catch. If they can do both, that’s a bonus."

The counter to this looking at who Gesicki really is. He may be listed as a tight end, but does he really play like one? Not really.

Over 60% of Gesicki's career snaps have come from the slot. 20% have come from out wide. He's spent more time as a traditional wide receiver than as an inline tight end.

If anything, Gesicki replacing Tyler Boyd in the slot rather than filling in as a traditional tight end might be the more apt analysis here. Boyd is scheduled to hit free agency officially Wednesday afternoon and isn't expected to return unless his market is nonexistent. 

Boyd's been a rock in the slot for the better part of the last 10 years in Cincinnati. Filling that void will not be easy, and it shouldn't all come down to Gesicki, but he will undoubtedly help.

Ja'Marr Chase, Charlie Jones are each expected to help out as well. Speaking of Chase, one of the OGs of the Griddy, Gesicki chimed in one bringing back his version of the dance.

Gesicki is a solid addition to the tight end room despite not being a traditional tight end. He'll do more of his work detached from the line as a receiver. This means the Bengals should still be looking for an inline option to pair with Drew Sample, whether it be in free agency or the NFL Draft. 

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