Who Should I Start? Mike Gesicki or Mason Taylor

Saturday, March 8, 12:32 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed tight end Mike Gesicki to a three-year deal worth $25.5 million on Saturday, a source tells NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Gesicki will make $12 million in the first year of the deal and will return to Cincy as their top pass-catching tight end. The 29-year-old broke out in his first year with the Bengals in 2024 with 65 receptions for 665 yards in 17 games, although he only found the end zone twice. The Bengals also have Tanner Hudson that they just re-signed this week, too, but Gesicki should once again function as the team's primary pass-catching TE after he was the third leading receiver last year behind receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Gesicki should at least be in consideration as a low-end TE1 in fantasy in 2025, and he'd see an even bigger boost if the Bengals end up trading Higgins this offseason.

Tuesday, April 29, 4:39 PM

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that rookie second-round tight end Mason Taylor will immediately walk into the Jets building at the top of the tight end depth chart going into his rookie season in 2025. Jeremy Ruckert projects as the No. 2, but he has yet to make an impact since the Jets drafted him in 2022. The Jets are at least hoping he can take a step forward as a blocker and contribute in the running game. The 20-year-old Taylor not only will be a starter immediately, but he could see plenty of targets from quarterback Justin Fields in his first year in the NFL, giving him TE1 fantasy upside in 2025. Outside of WR1 Garrett Wilson, the Jets don't exactly star-studded receiving depth in Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard and Arian Smith. Taylor will have intriguing rookie upside, but he'll still be better off drafted as a TE2 sleeper than a staple for those in single-TE leagues.