Mike Gesicki is, at long last, a free agent. The Miami Dolphins tight end probably should have been one last year, but GM Chris Grier exercised the franchise tag — a decision that ultimately was a miscalculation.
Grier won’t repeat that mistake this year, meaning Gesicki will almost certainly play for a new team. But who? We go through his potential free agency options and make some predictions on potential landing spots.
Mike Gesicki Free Agency Predictions
The Miami Dolphins’ 2022 season had just ended with a Wild Card Round loss to the Bills, and likely so did Gesicki’s time in aqua and orange.
Gesicki, surrounded by reporters in Highmark Stadium’s visiting locker room back in January, had this to say about his future:
“We’ll see. I’m not really sure at this point. I love it in Miami. I’ve been there for five years. Made a ton of memories. But we’ll see. I had a lot of fun playing today, a lot of fun playing the last five years.”
Gesicki, in those five years, caught 18 touchdowns and pocketed $17.8 million in total earnings. He earned most of that money via the franchise tag in 2022.
But most of his offensive output came before 2022 — and before Mike McDaniel was named head coach. He simply was a round peg in a square hole in Miami in 2022, a big reason why he’s likely gone.
“I told Mike I was proud of him,” McDaniel said. “He did a nice job and made some plays yesterday for us, got us back in the game. He worked through it all this year. We’ll see what the future holds. He’s earned the right to be a free agent, but we’re happy for him, and he did a nice job. I know his teammates are happy for him, as you saw when he scored the touchdown yesterday.”
Money, of course, will be a motivating factor for him. But it’s not the only factor.
Most important to him?
“Just opportunity. You’ve got to take everything into effect. Got to take scheme, quarterback play, location. There’s a ton of stuff. We’ll see when we get there. Ultimately, I think I fit in any scheme, can play in any scheme. It’s not really my biggest concern. Just opportunity, getting out there and making plays,” Gesicki explained.
Who checks those boxes? Here are three teams that make the most sense.
A Giant Homecoming for Jersey Boy
Gesicki grew up in Manahawkin, N.J. — just 90 miles south of MetLife Stadium on the Garden State Parkway.
He spends his offseasons on the Jersey Shore.
The New York Giants, meanwhile, have the NFL’s third-most cap space and got just 57 receptions for 560 yards and three touchdowns from their tight ends in 2022.
This fit makes all the sense in the world.
Missing Piece for Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were one score away from the Super Bowl in 2022 and one stop away from a Lombardi Trophy in 2021.
As Joe Burrow put it, their window is open for as long as he’s playing. And while a Burrow contract extension would eat into their roughly $35 million in cap space, the Bengals still have enough left over for Gesicki.
Imagine Burrow throwing to Gesicki, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. Goodness.
Heart of a Lion?
The Detroit Lions’ 2022 leader in catches and yards among tight ends — T.J. Hockenson — only played half the season with Detroit before being dealt to the Minnesota Vikings.
That means the Lions need an upgrade at the position. They have the resources (10th-most cap space) and the need. And they have a high-powered offense led by Ben Johnson, one of the best minds in the game.
Detroit is a team on the rise.
Mike Gesicki Market Value, Career Stats, and More
Gesicki ranks 30th on PFN’s list of top 100 free agents, and he’s the No. 3 tight end behind Dalton Schultz and Evan Ingram.
After earning $10.9 million under the franchise tag in 2022, he probably won’t be in line for a big raise.
While Gesicki caught just 32 passes for 362 yards and five touchdowns in Year 5, he has plenty of high-level game tape from his first four years. So Spotrac’s calculated market value — four years, $32.9 million — seems a touch low.
Mike Gesicki Career Stats
- Receiving Yards: 2,617
- Catches: 231
- TDs: 5