Bengals expected to add big playmaker to Joe Burrow's arsenal

The Bengals received some bad news on Monday when franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins requested to be traded, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. However, whether or not Higgins will play for Cincinnati in 2024, the team is expected to add to QB Joe Burrow's arsenal with a big playmaker.

According to Schefter, the Bengals have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $3.25 million with former Patriots and Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, a second-round pick in 2018.

The massive 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end is coming off a bit of a down year where he posted just 29 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns with the Patriots, but just two seasons ago he had a career-high 73 catches for 780 yards.

Gesicki was also the No. 2 tight end behind Hunter Henry in New England and that won't be the case in Cincinnati, barring any other big investment to the position.

The only other "big-name" tight end that could battle Gesicki for the Bengals' starting job is Georgia's Brock Bowers, who some experts believe could fall Cincinnati at pick No. 18 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

However, Bowers currently ranks as Pro Football Focus' best tight end and No. 5 overall prospect on its big board. So, it wouldn't be surprising if he's off the board by the time the Bengals make their first pick.

Either way, Cincinnati has now addressed the position ahead of April's draft and it needed to after the group combined for just 686 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Fans will, of course, keep their eyes peeled for any news on the Higgins situation, but the Bengals have done their part to keep Burrow's weapons stacked for the 2024 season. Only time will tell if Higgins will be a part of the talented group, which seems ready to make a run at a Super Bowl.