Bears Free Agency Preview: Mike Gesicki could be best option to upgrade Justin Fields’ receivers

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.

Mike Gesicki goin’ UP! @mikegesicki

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— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

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.

Last year this time, the Dolphins used the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki. That’s how valuable they thought he was. He didn’t work out in Miami’s new system, but that doesn’t diminish his upside as a playmaker, especially for a team like the Chicago Bears, who are desperate for one at any position.

Gesicki turns 28 in October, he’s entering his prime years for a tight end. His addition would bring a new dimension to the Bears” passing attack and complement Cole Kmet well. Remember: if the Chicago Bears target Mike Gesicki, it isn’t because they’re moving on from Kmet. Instead, they’d prioritize Gesicki as the best pass-catcher in the 2023 free-agent class. He just happens to be a tight end.

Spotrac predicts Gesicki will ink a four-year, $32.8 million deal in free agency. With the Bears having the most money (by far) to spend on the open market, paying a receiving threat like Gesicki $8.2 million per season is a drop in the bucket.

In a critical offseason focused on building around Justin Fields, adding Mike Gesicki as a long-term playmaking tight end would make a ton of sense.