Bengals extending Mike Gesicki is already paying strong dividends for both sides and the season is still far away

Contract extensions for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins stole the spotlight for the Cincinnati Bengals in March, but Mike Gesicki was the first of Joe Burrow's weapons to get paid during the month.

Cincinnati inked Gesicki to a three-year, $25.5 million deal days before free agency opened. It not only satisfied one of Joe Burrow's offseason requests, but Gesicki gained the stability he has been seeking for his entire career.

Gesicki spent the last three years playing without any long-term certainty. The Miami Dolphins placed the franchise tag on him in 2022, which then led to one-year deals with the New England Patriots and Bengals in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Cashing in this offseason once and for all was a priority for Gesicki, and by doing so in Cincinnati, he's now experiencing continuity for the first time since his early days in Miami. He's already noticed the impact during voluntary workouts and OTAs.

"I think the biggest thing is now that I'm in the same system, I'm not worrying about myself as much," Gesicki told Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson. "I can concentrate on the defense more, and knowing Joe, I know I'm going to get that freedom out there."

Gesicki gave the Bengals tight end production they hadn't seen in years last season with 65 receptions for 665 yards and two touchdowns. Two of his best games were also the last two of the season when he racked up 18 receptions for 154 yards. 

Instead of having to carry over that into a new offense, Gesicki is simply picking up right where he left off. The ideal outcome for both parties.

Cincinnati is already benefitting from Burrow being fully healthy to start the offseason and having Chase and Higgins in the fold without contract negotiations looming over their heads. Gesicki now joins them in returning to the same offense with his future secured.

For a team that needs its offense to be among the very best in the league, the Bengals should already feel very good about their decision to include Gesicki in their plans of continuity.