A second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2018, tight end Mike Gesicki looked like a player on the rise, posting a 73-780-2 line in 2021 to give him a total of 177 receptions, 2,053 yards, and 13 touchdowns over a three-year stretch. Miami thought enough of Gesicki to slap the franchise tag on him. Heading into Year 5 with new head coach Mike McDaniel arriving, the future looked bright for Gesicki.
Instead, McDaniel brought an offensive attack predicated on speed and vertical shots, built around wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the result was a marginalized role for Gesicki. After seeing an average of 95 targets over his previous three seasons, the Penn State alum had just 52 in 2022, and — outside of his five touchdowns — his numbers fell to non-rookie lows (32-362-5).
Coming off a down year, Gesicki inked a one-year deal with the New England Patriots. The thought process was clear: give new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien another talented tight end to pair with TE Hunter Henry and watch as that duo recreates the magic seen during O’Brien’s previous run with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. It didn’t work out that way.
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The Pats scuffled offensively throughout 2023 as quarterback Mac Jones regressed, and QB Bailey Zappe showed none of the promise he’d flashed the previous year. When the dust settled, Gesicki was targeted just 45 times, catching 29 of them for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was another disappointing year for the talented pass catcher.
Gesicki signed another one-year deal this offseason, this time with the Cincinnati Bengals, in hope of reigniting his flagging career. It follows Cincinnati’s recent trend, having brought in veteran TEs Hayden Hurst in 2022 and Irv Smith Jr. last year. Hurst (52-414-2 in ‘22) was a far more productive signing than Smith (18-115-1), but the Bengals will be hoping for more from Gesicki.
While tight end hasn’t been a featured position since quarterback Joe Burrow arrived in 2020, the winds of change are blowing in Cincinnati. WR Tyler Boyd is gone, having signed with the Tennessee Titans, and wideout Tee Higgins has demanded a trade after receiving the franchise tag, leaving WR Ja’Marr Chase as the one sure thing in the Bengals’ passing attack.
In terms of competition, TE Drew Sample (22-163-2) returns, and the team spent fourth- and sixth-round picks on TEs Erick All (knee) and Tanner McLachlan, respectively. On paper, nobody in that group is a threat to challenge Gesicki for the top job in 2024. All has the talent over the long term, though he’s recovering from a torn ACL.
Fantasy football outlook
Coming off two disappointing seasons, Gesicki is unlikely to garner much attention in fantasy drafts this time around. While that’s a valid approach, he shouldn’t be dismissed entirely. Depending on how things shake out with Higgins, Gesicki has a chance to fill a bigger role than he has since 2021, and Burrow is easily the best quarterback with whom he’s played. He’s someone to add to your watch list as a possible TE2, provided Higgins is indeed dealt.
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