Gesicki Takes ‘Joe Burrow Tax’ to Help Keep Bengals Offense Together

The 29-year-old tight end has signed a 3-year, $25 million deal to stay with the Cincinnati team.

Mike Gesicki #88 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 15, 2024. David Eulitt/Getty Images

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki paid the “Joe Burrow Tax” to help keep the team’s core together.

This month, it was reported that Gesicki signed a 3-year, $25 million deal to stay with the Bengals, which is seen as a discounted rate. In an interview with the Dayton Daily News, the 29-year-old tight end said he chose less money to remain with Cincinnati and to stay with a top-tier quarterback such as Burrow.

“I definitely knew that I was going to take the ‘Joe Burrow tax,’” Gesicki told the outlet. “So, I knew that, and I was like, I’m cool with it. And so, it makes it easy to come back to a place like this. … There’s so many different guys that were in the back of my mind as I’m thinking about, you know, do I test the market?”

According to data from Spotrac, Gesicki’s deal would have been second among free agent tight ends in terms of total value: The New Orleans Saints signed tight end Juwan Johnson to a three-year, $30.75 million deal. It would have been third in terms of average annual value: his deal carries an average salary of roughly $8.5 million per year; Evan Engram’s deal with the Denver Broncos carries an average annual value of $11.5 million, while Johnson’s carries an average annual value of $10.25 million.

Gesicki said at the end of the season that “making up money“ in free agency was ”definitely a motivation” for him, though there were other factors to consider, and praised head coach Zac Taylor and many of the players on the offensive side of the ball.

Ultimately, those other factors proved to be the determining ones.

“You hear about your value and all that kind of stuff and what it could be, and at that point, it’s just like, this is what I want,“ he told the Dayton Daily News. ”I wanted to go to Cincinnati, and I wanted to be in an offense that allowed me to reach my potential, and I think that this place gives me everything I’m looking for.”

Gesicki had his best statistical season since 2021. He appeared in all 17 games, catching 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns. He was part of a Bengals offense that led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Burrow passed for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns, with a 108.5 quarterback rating, all career highs, on his way to a Pro Bowl nod and his second NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown by leading all three major statistical categories, catching 127 passes for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns.

On the ground, running back Chase Brown was just 10 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season.

The Bengals are doing their best to keep their offensive core of Burrow, Chase, receiver Tee Higgins, and Gesicki together. They placed the franchise tag on Higgins and are working on long-term deals for both him and Chase.

Before the Super Bowl, Burrow said he was confident the team would do what was necessary to keep them all together.

“We have me, Ja'Marr, Tee, Trey, Mike G, we have guys that want to play together, and so we’re going to find a way to make that work,” he said on the “Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams” on Feb. 6.

“I know our organization wants to make it happen, too. Guys want to get paid what they’re worth, but at the same time I know how important it is to keep great players together, and so I’m going to do what it takes. I know they will, too, and hopefully, the organization does what it takes to keep everybody around.”