3 ideal landing spots for former Penn State star Mike Gesicki in NFL free agency 2025
Mike Gesicki was a dominant force across his four years at Penn State including catching the Nittany Lion’s first touchdown of the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin in 2016. An elite red zone and deep ball threat because of his incredible leaping ability at 6-foot-6, the Miami Dolphins were banking on the tight end developing into a more reliable and prolific producer when they selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Through seven years in the NFL, Gesicki has bounced around to three different teams with two one-year stops first in New England and then in Cincinnati in 2024. His best season came in 2021, catching 73 passes for 780 yards and six touchdowns, and last year he had a resurgence with Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
A player who once received the franchise tag from Miami, Gesicki is entering free agency again off a year with 65 grabs for 665 yards, but only two touchdowns. At 29 years old he’s very familiar with the open market and this time might be able to sign more than just a one-year deal. Here are three teams that the former Nittany Lion star should be interested in signing with.
Denver Broncos
There may not be a head coach in the NFL who loves using tight ends more than Sean Payton. The Broncos will likely be after one in the draft, maybe Penn State’s Tyler Warren or Michigan’s Colston Loveland in the first round, but signing Gesicki could still be a good move for Denver. Bo Nix looked like an NFL starter in Year 1 and Gesicki would be a good fit in an offense that expects playmakers to get yards after the catch on underneath targets or win at the catch-point downfield.
Cincinnati Bengals
Situated as the third option for Joe Burrow behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins proved to be the perfect recipe for Gesicki last season. The Bengals need a tight end but they will be looking to address the defensive side of the ball in the draft, so a return to Cincinnati makes a ton of sense for the seven-year vet. He developed a rapport with one of the league’s elite young quarterbacks and that could prove invaluable to the Bengals and Gesicki’s long-term earning potential.
Indianapolis Colts
There isn’t a team in the NFL more desperate for a competent tight end than Indianapolis, and the Colts might be willing to pay up for it. There would be real uncertainty for Gesciki going from Burrow to the unproven former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, but if it comes with a significant payday, it’d be the right move. Kylen Granson was the team’s leading tight end in 2024 with 14 catches for 182 yards and no touchdowns. A Colts tight end hasn’t gone for more than 500 receiving yards since Eric Ebron in 2018 when he was catching passes from Andrew Luck.
