Might the Philadelphia Eagles take TE Mike Gesicki at pick 32?

Following the NFL Combine, many believe the Philadelphia Eagles should address their tight end or linebacker concerns with the 32nd-overall pick. Might Mike Gesicki be an option?

One of the more interesting NFL Combines in recent memory concluded on March 5th, and we’ll all be discussing each of the prospects who were present from now until the end of April. The general consensus is the Philadelphia Eagles should address the tight end or linebacker position when they’re on the clock at pick 32. With that being said, circle the name Mike Gesicki on your personal draft boards. He’s a guy that the Eagles will be paying a lot of attention to.

At six-foot-five, Gesicki is the record holder for the most receptions by a tight end in the history of the Penn State Nittany Lions. That’s saying a lot. Think about their tradition and history for a second. Do you see what we mean now?

Let’s dig a little deeper.

For his career in ‘Happy Valley’, Gesicki hauled in 129 receptions for 1,481 yards and 15 touchdowns. He lit it up at the NFL Combine, and NFL.com gives him a Combine grade of 5.9, and they compare him to Tyler Higbee.

Here’s some of what was written in his draft profile:

"Smooth in his release. Generates vertical concern for cover linebackers with sneaky build-up speed… Long, athletic gait and loose hips help him create separation on second and third level routes. Puts effort and work into route running. Works the seam without hesitation. Changes route speeds and works head fakes effectively to mask route intentions. Able to run more complex patterns. Ball skills stand out amongst tight end class of 2018… Makes in-air adjustments to the ball and is in optimal position to pull it in when it gets there. Hasn’t had a legitimate pass drop in two years."

Expect things to look a little different in the Eagles tight end room.

The Eagles are almost certain to lose Trey Burton in free agency, and though Brent Celek plans to return for another season, he is aging. Over the past three seasons, Celek’s caught 13 passes, and he’s due $4 million for the 2018 season. That leaves Zach Ertz, Billy Brown and former rugby star, Adam Zaruba.

Don’t be surprised if the Eagles take some serious looks at Gesicki. In addition to his skill set (his blocking skills are the only question mark), he’s basically a home-town selection. He’s a product of Southern Regional High School. There, he holds records for the football team in catches (103) and yards receiving (1,817). For the volleyball team, he holds the record for blocks (519). He also holds a record for the basketball program with 1,866 points scored.

This guy’s an athlete. Period.

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