Miami Dolphins place franchise tag on Mike Gesicki, bringing him again for fifth season

The Miami Dolphins have positioned the franchise tag on tight finish Mike Gesicki, a league supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter, bringing him again for a fifth season.

The 2018 second-round choose has elevated his reception and receiving yard totals in every of his 4 NFL seasons, together with a career-high 780 yards on 73 catches in 2021. Since getting into the league, solely six tight ends have extra catches than Gesicki’s 199. He additionally ranks eighth amongst NFL tight ends with 2,255 receiving yards.

Gesicki was set to change into an unrestricted free agent this offseason, with Spotrac estimating his market worth at $44 million over 4 years. The Dolphins used a third-round choose in 2021 on tight finish Hunter Long and stored 5 energetic tight ends on their 53-man roster throughout the season. None of them had been as productive as Gesicki.

The Dolphins and Gesicki can have till July 15 to comply with a long-term deal. If no deal is reached, Gesicki will play the 2022 season on the franchise tender, which is value $10.931 million for tight ends, in accordance with a memo obtained by ESPN.

Gesicki was requested about his contract standing all through the season and publicly acknowledged his happiness in Miami.

“I have never thought of it this season. I form of simply let all of it play out,” he mentioned on Jan. 5, previous to the workforce’s last sport of the season. “As a result of it would not matter how a lot I give it some thought or do not give it some thought, it is not likely as much as me. I simply form of go about my enterprise and form of let the whole lot fall the place it could. I do respect this group.

“I am completely happy the place I am at and I like the blokes, just like the locker room, just like the coaches. I can go on and on about all of the issues I like. We’ll see. We’ll see what occurs.”

The Dolphins’ prime two tight ends, Gesicki and Durham Smythe, we’re each set to hit free company this offseason. Lengthy represents considerably important draft capital spent on the place, and he was energetic in solely seven video games final season.

Whereas not thought of a blocking tight finish, Gesicki is likely one of the NFL’s premier receiving choices on the place. Since getting into the league, solely six tight ends have had extra receptions than Gesicki’s 199.

He additionally ranks eighth amongst NFL tight ends throughout that interval with 2,255 receiving yards.

At 6-foot-6, 247 kilos, Gesicki, who turns 27 in October, presents a dimension benefit over defensive backs and a pace benefit over linebackers who cowl him. The Dolphins had been artistic in attempting to use these matchups, lining up Gesicki within the slot on 816 events because the begin of 2018 — the seventh most amongst tight ends throughout that span.