The 2023 NFL free agent class isn’t overflowing with high-end wide receivers. But there is a pass-catcher who will appeal to Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus as a weapon Justin Fields can target down the middle of the field and in the red zone.
Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki is the premier free agent at his position this season. He’s also one of the NFL’s more gifted athletes playing tight end. If signed, Gesicki would give the Bears their first true weapon at tight end since Zach Miller.
Gesicki has always been viewed as more pass-catcher than a run-blocker. His performance at the 2018 NFL Combine confirmed his pro projection. He measured 6-6 and 247 pounds and ran a blazing 4.53 40-yard dash. His 41.5-inch vertical jump was superhuman, and his nearly 11-foot broad was out of this world too.
Simply put, Mike Gesicki is a freak.
Gesicki was a misfit in Mike McDaniels’ offense in 2022, and it’s unlikely Miami will make a strong push to re-sign him. He had back-to-back seasons of more than 700 receiving yards in 2020 and 2021 before regressing to 362 yards last year. He did score five touchdowns, the second-best single-season mark of his career, which to date has totaled 18 touchdowns in five seasons.
