The New England Patriots made a quick decision on which tight end they wanted to use to carry on their offensive makeover. The Patriots reaffirmed their belief that Hunter Henry should be their starting tight end by choosing to sign him instead of Mike Gesicki, who subsequently became a free agent. The Cincinnati Bengals quickly took advantage of the situation, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported, and signed Gesicki to a one-year, $3.25 million contract.
Gesicki had a very lackluster season in his first and only year at New England. In 17 games, he only managed 29 receptions for 244 yards and two scores. Even though the offense and quarterback play were disorganized for the majority of the 2023 season, Gesicki’s output was far below what he had accomplished in his breakout 2021 season with the Miami Dolphins.
Although many believed that the combination of Hunter Henry and Gesicki would cause havoc and matchup nightmares for rival defenses, the offense was never able to fully establish itself.
The highlight of Gesicki’s time in New England was his game-winning touchdown reception in the final seconds of the Patriots’ Week 7 2023 29-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Despite only having two receptions for five yards throughout the contest, Gesicki’s second reception of the day turned out to be the game-winning one, leading the Patriots to their second of four victories overall.
Gesicki’s NFL Career Path
Highs and lows have been part of Gesicki’s NFL career. In the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected him out of Penn State. Prior to a 2023 one-year spell with the Patriots, Gesicki enjoyed five successful seasons with the Dolphins.
In his first season with the Dolphins in 2021, Gesicki established himself as a potent playmaker, racking up 73 receptions for 780 yards and two touchdowns. This outstanding season demonstrated Gesicki’s ability to flourish as the primary target in the passing game, highlighting his adaptability and dependability as a receiving threat and elevating his stature among the NFL’s best tight ends who can catch passes.
Gesicki’s career statistics when taken as a whole highlight his value as a reliable pass catcher. Gesicki has established himself as a dependable and effective tight end who can significantly contribute to his team’s offensive performance, as evidenced by his career total of 260 receptions, 2,861 receiving yards, and 20 touchdown catches.
Given the probable departures from their receiving corps, the Bengals’ deliberate approach to enhancing their offensive arsenal is reflected in the signing of Gesicki. In light of Tee Higgins’ trade request and Tyler Boyd’s approaching free agency, Gesicki’s adaptability as a vertical threat gives the Bengals’ offensive system more depth and flexibility at a comparatively cheap cost. Joe Burrow’s switch to throwing to Gesicki may lead to a resurgence and a return to the form from 2021.
The TE Room Gets Revamped by the Patriots
Despite committing to Henry as their top option, the Patriots need further reinforcements in their tight end room, especially with Gesicki departing for Cincinnati. La’Michael Pettway and Henry are the only players on the team as New England looks to replace Gesicki’s departure while considering free-agent possibilities like as adding a Logan Thomas or bringing Pharaoh Brown back. Thomas returned to New England and played in Washington with Jacoby Brissett, the recently signed quarterback for the Patriots.
The Patriots may also decide to select a rookie tight end with one of their picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, giving the young player an opportunity to develop under Hunter Henry.
Anticipating an NFL season in which Gesicki and Henry will lead opposing tight end groupings, the game between the Patriots and Bengals in 2024 offers an interesting subplot that will showcase the development of both players’ careers and their respective roles within the offensive strategies of their new teams. The Patriots’ game versus the Bengals is expected to provide an exciting narrative for fans to follow as they begin Jerod Mayo’s first season as head coach.
