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In an interesting move for the AFC East division, the New England Patriots have signed tight end Mike Gesicki away from their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins. Gesicki agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million, marking the second straight year that he will play under a one-year contract.
Gesicki played out his final season with the Dolphins while on the franchise tag, appearing in every game but seeing his role decreases in new head coach Mike McDaniel’s offense. As a result, his numbers dropped from 73 catches for 780 yards in 2021 to 32 catches for 362 yards in 2022. However, he did manage to catch five touchdowns in the regular season and one more in the playoffs.
With the departure of Jonnu Smith, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons earlier this offseason, Gesicki and Hunter Henry are set to be the top tight ends in New England this year. Gesicki’s role in the offense is expected to focus on being a red zone target, where his size and athleticism make him a valuable asset.
Despite his receiving prowess, Gesicki is not known for his blocking abilities and is more of a slot receiver than a true inline blocker. As a result, the Patriots may still need to address this area in the upcoming draft or through other means.
Gesicki has recorded 231 catches for 2,617 yards and 18 touchdowns in 81 career games for the Dolphins, and his addition to the Patriots’ offense is expected to provide a significant boost to the team’s passing game and quarterback Mac Jones.
The Patriots will be hoping that Gesicki’s signing, along with the addition of other players this offseason, will help them return to the playoffs after missing out last year.