With the 2021 NFL season finally coming to a close, teams will shift their focus completely to free agency and this year’s draft.
When it comes to which Dolphins are set to hit the market this offseason, tight end Mike Gesicki has been the offensive player getting all the attention. In 2021, Gesicki had arguably the best season of his career, as he recorded career highs in both receptions (73) and yards (780) but got into the end zone just twice.
Due to his success, many, including Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger in a recent write-up, have tabbed the tight end as a potential franchise tag candidate for Miami.
As Spielberger listed in his post, the franchise tag for tight ends is expected to be just over $10.9 million this offseason. In terms of average annual value, that would place him just behind New England’s Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry who are both tied for fifth at $12.5 million annually.
He also mentions that Gesicki may try to say that he’s a receiver as Jimmy Graham did at one point, however, it would be tough for his representation to win that battle.
The interesting part of this situation will be how new head coach Mike McDaniel views Gesicki. In McDaniel’s offense, he prefers to rely on tight ends and fullbacks who prioritize blocking, and Gesicki doesn’t exactly fit that mold. They still could bring him back and use him more as a receiver with other tight ends in the mix, but that will be for the coach to decide.
