Mike Gesicki’s time with Dolphins comes to a close; tight end goes to rival Patriots in free agency

The expectation with tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason is now reality. His time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an end.

Gesicki is departing in free agency to join the New England Patriots, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday morning. The talented 6-foot-6 pass-catcher’s new contract is for one year and $9 million.

That was a price the Dolphins were unlikely to pay after Gesicki and coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, in which blocking at the tight end position is paramount, did not mesh.

“We always say, ‘Never say never,’ around anything,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said weeks ago of Gesicki, when speaking at the NFL scouting combine, “but he’s earned the right [to be a free agent] and I’m sure he’s excited to see what his free agency options are.

“I don’t know what his price range would be, but he’s been a good player in the league. He’s been a productive player, and I’m sure he’ll have some suitors.”

Although Grier also said, in his communication with McDaniel, that the coach can work with any type of tight end, it was clear that Gesicki’s blocking deficiencies were cutting into his playing time with the Dolphins in 2022. The three lowest in-game snap counts in his career (nine at San Francisco and 12 apiece at Buffalo and versus Green Bay) all occurred in December of the past season.

Gesicki’s 32 receptions and 362 receiving yards were both his lowest regular-season totals since his rookie season in 2018. Despite it, he did score five touchdowns last year, adding a sixth in the playoff loss against the Bills.

Gesicki played the 2022 season on the franchise tag for the Dolphins after his 2021 campaign in which he established career highs of 73 catches and 780 yards.

The Penn State grad and New Jersey product was selected in the second round, pick No. 42, by Miami in the 2018 draft. Later in the same draft, the Dolphins chose fellow tight end Durham Smythe, who is now bound to be Miami’s longest-tenured offensive player on the roster.

Along with Smythe, the Dolphins have 2022 undrafted rookie Tanner Conner returning at the tight end position. They also are signing Eric Saubert as a free agent from the Denver Broncos. Miami released Cethan Carter and traded Hunter Long in the move that netted the franchise star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Gesicki went through the final season of coach Adam Gase’s tenure at the helm for the Dolphins, three seasons of Brian Flores and the first year of McDaniel.

Days after the postseason elimination in western New York, Gesicki released a thoughtful message on Twitter that had the looks of a farewell post.

“I didn’t even know I was making memories, I was just having fun,” Gesicki, wrote, reflecting on his five seasons with the Dolphins. “No telling what the future holds, just control what you can control. Everyone that knows me knows I would stay in South Florida forever, time will tell. No matter what and no matter where, the show goes on.”