Bengals coach compares free agent signing to a player Cincinnati has been trying to replace for years

There have been several tight ends featured in the Cincinnati Bengals' offense in recent years, and none of them have lived up to the standard Tyler Eifert set back in the day.

At his peak, Eifert was a complete weapon at the position and a fiend for contested catches in the red zone. It's this ability that Bengals tight end coach James Casey sees his newest tight end, Mike Gesicki, sharing with Eifert.

"Mike's more explosive, but both could go up and make the contested catch," Casey told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Casey and Eifert's paths crossed in 2019, the former's first year on the job, and the latter's last season in Cincinnati. Eifert had one of his most productive receiving seasons under Casey's coaching that year, though C.J. Uzomah was the main starter and played 153 more snaps than him. 

Uzomah, Drew Sample, Hayden Hurst, Irv Smith, and Tanner Hudson have all followed in Eifert's footsteps over the years since the former first round pick's NFL career ended a year after leaving the Bengals. Despite flashes from most of those listed above, the team has needed a true receiving weapon at the position like the healthy version of Eifert was. 

Casey believes Gesicki is an answer to this problem.

"It gives you flexibility when you feel Iike you have an above average pass catcher at tight end," said Casey. "You can put him in some receiving roles, too. You know Mike can do some of that stuff.

Gesicki's only under contract for the 2024 campaign and a true long-term replacement will need to be found eventually.

For now, Gesicki's unique receiving ability will give the Bengals a weapon at the position Casey nor anyone else in Cincinnati have seen since the glory days of their former red zone savant.