The Chicago Bears need to put more weapons around Justin Fields, and Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki could be the perfect addition. The 2022 season is an opportunity for the Chicago Bears to help quarterback Justin Fields take a leap in his development, and the only way he will be able to do that is if the team makes a concerted effort to give him more weapons in the passing game.
The Bears have some options for Fields to target downfield, with Darnell Mooney coming off a 1000-yard season in 2021, and tight end Cole Kmet hauling in over 600 yards in his second season with the team.
Mike Gesicki would be a great trade acquisition for the Chicago Bears
N’Keal Harry could positively impact the team when he returns from injury, but having him sidelined leaves the Bears need to consider all possible options to improve the team.
As things stand, the Bears have fourth-year receiver Equanimeous St. Brown listed as a starter at the position, showing just how weak the unit is as Week One of the regular season moves ever closer.
St. Brown has combined for 543 receiving yards and just one touchdown through 37 career appearances with the Green Bay Packers, and it’s unlikely he will be able to fill the spot left often by the departure of Allen Robinson.
If the Chicago Bears are serious about competing in the 2022 season, then they should be looking at how things pan out for Miami Dolphins’ Mike Gesicki.
Gesicki has been a reliable receiving tight end for the Dolphins since being taken in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2018 Draft, seeing his receptions and yards total increase year on year – combining for 2255 yards and 13 touchdowns through 64 games (30 starts).
He was given the franchise tag by the Dolphins this year, and there were talks over whether or not Gesicki would push for a wide receiver designation due to his frequent use in the slot or even further out wide.
He is a big target, standing at 6-foot-6, 237 pounds, and there is reason to believe he could be available in a trade due to the Dolphins’ change in the coaching staff and offensive philosophy this offseason.
Gesicki has been working on playing more of a blocking role in Mike McDaniel’s offensive scheme, but it has not come easily to him and there’s a belief that he may not even be the starter at the position by the time the regular season rolls around.
If his place in the passing game is greatly diminished, the Dolphins could be seeking a way to move the 26-year-old Lakewood, New Jersey native, and the Bears could benefit greatly from acquiring him.
Gesicki would prefer to play exclusively as a receiver, and the Bears could bring him in to fulfill that capacity – even allowing him to line up in the slot and give Fields a big-bodied target through the middle of the field.
The Dolphins may have an interest in wantaway linebacker Roquan Smith, and there are plenty of reasons to work out a deal between the two parties if each can benefit from offloading a player that may not be completely happy with the situation around them.
For the Chicago Bears, adding Gesicki alongside Kmet and Mooney relieves the pressure on St. Brown, with three legitimate targets for Fields to throw to – increasing his chances of success and developing in the right direction in his second year in the league.
The Bears may have to wait a while to observe the Gesicki situation, determining whether or not the player or even his team starts to become frustrated with the situation before making a move. However, there could be something there, and giving the team as many consistent offensive weapons as possible should be a top priority in 2022.