The Patriots keep their momentum strong as they sign another veteran free agent. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki.
The deal is reportedly worth up to $9M with a base of $1.1M. The 27-year-old entered the NFL as a second-round pick, and the Miami Dolphins selected him in the 2018 NFL draft. Gesicki has combined for 233 receptions for 2,632 yards and 19 touchdowns. The 6-foot-6, 247-pound tight end has played 82 games for the Dolphins. The Dolphins chose to use the franchise tag on Gesicki last season, but he was barely used in Miami’s offense. Although Gesicki is a versatile receiver who can line up outside and in the slot, he didn’t get to perform to his abilities last season.
Bill Belichick has praised the tight end in the past. “He’s a hard guy to cover,” Belichick said last December. “Long. He’s a good, crafty route-runner. He’s slick. He can get down the field. Excellent hands can make some acrobatic catches and have enough quickness to separate. He’s another hard guy to cover on third down — well, on any down, but when you talk about those possession downs, he’s effective.”
The Penn State product recorded back-to-back 700-plus yard seasons in 2020 and 2021 and has remained healthy throughout his career. Additionally, it’s worth noting new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was with Gesicki for a brief time at Penn State before leaving to become the head coach of the Texans.
However, it went downhill for the tight end last season, as he only started one game and had one touchdown all season. Gesicki only hauled in 32 passes, tallying 362 yards, while only being on the field for 451 plays. During the previous season, Gesicki caught 73 receptions for 780 yards, playing 784 offensive snaps.
The move signals the Patriots are going back to their two tight-end systems. New England tried to implement the unique playing style during the last two seasons but failed as tight end Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith needed to produce sufficient numbers. Smith never developed into the player the Patriots hoped for when they signed him in 2021, and as a result, New England traded the tight end to Atlanta when free agency started. Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki should be able to complement each other on the football field. Meanwhile, many believe the tight end draft class this year is the best in the last decade, and both Henry and Gesicki will be free agents next season. The Patriots could draft another tight end during the NFL draft, as Geseski’s contract only spans a year. Options include Luke Musgrave (Oregon State), Darnell Washington (Georgia), Dalton Kincaid (Utah), Tucker Kraft (South Dakota State), Sam LaPorta (Iowa), and Zack Kuntz (Old Dominion). Meanwhile, the Patriots have Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington as depth options on the bench.
The Patriots signing Gesicki also helps overcome the struggles the Patriots faced in the red zone last season. In addition, the Patriots recently added JuJu Smith-Schuster to the team, adding another tall threat to the red zone. In addition, the signing of James Robinson gives Mac Jones another option. Although Gesicki isn’t primarily used as a blocker, he offers a vertical threat and often makes contested catches.
Although the Patriots aren’t viewed as the best team in the division, their recent signings point to a better functional offense.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
