Colts Urged to Acquire Rival TE
Through five weeks this season, the Indianapolis Colts are surprise contenders in the AFC South. That could potentially make the team buyers at the NFL trade deadline at the end of October.
Should that be the case, New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki is an interesting potential addition to Indianapolis' roster.
The Bleacher Report NFL staff argued as much on October 9.
"The Colts could use another big-bodied receiver for Anthony Richardson," the BR staff wrote. "He could be particularly useful on the goal line where Shane Steichen has been getting creative with RPOs out of heavy personnel packages."
Gesicki hasn't produced much over the first five weeks of this season, which is his first with the Patriots. He also wasn't a fit in Mike McDaniels' offense with the Miami Dolphins last year.
This season, Gesicki has 12 receptions for 116 yards. He's averaging just 3.4 targets per game. During 2022 in Miami, Gesicki had 32 catches for 362 yards.
At least last season, he averaged 11.3 yards per reception, which was the second highest of his career, with 5 touchdowns. This year, Gesicki has recorded 9.7 yards per catch and hasn't scored.
But Gesicki posted 50-plus receptions and more than 700 receiving yards in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Dolphins. He also had 51 catches and 570 receiving yards in 2019.
That version of Gesicki could be quite useful for the Colts offense whether it's the rookie Anthony Richardson or Gardner Minshew behind center.
The biggest question, though, is whether the Colts have room on their roster for another tight end. Indianapolis already possesses tight ends Mo Alie-Cox, Kyle Granson and Drew Ogletree. Second-year tight end Jelani Woods could also return from injury this month.
Granson leads Colts tight ends with 13 receptions and 103 receiving yards this season. Granson, Ogletree and Alie-Cox have all caught touchdowns.
Last year, which was his rookie season, Woods had 25 receptions for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Colts also have tight end Will Mallory on their roster.
Gesicki would upgrade Indianapolis' tight end room, but the improvement would likely come at the expense of one of the team's young, promising tight ends.
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