The New England Patriots have a new tight end. According to a ESPN reportNew England signed former Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal that can pay Gesicki up to $9 million.
The move comes just days after the Pats left Jonnu Smith, who they traded to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round pick. Smith had been one of two free agent signings high-priced New England made in tight position ahead of the 2021 season, when he signed for four years and $50 million and Hunter Henry signed a three-year, $37.5 million pact.
Now the Pats are bringing in Gesicki to work alongside Henry under new (and old) offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. Gesicki played his college ball at Penn State, where O’Brien was the head coach when he was recruited (although O’Brien took over as head coach with the Houston Texans before Gesicki’s freshman year).
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Gesicki saw his role dwindle significantly last season with the Dolphins after the hiring of head coach Mike McDaniel, whose offense requires tight ends to be more traditional line blockers. Gesicki, despite being 6-foot-6 and weighing 247 pounds, tends to line up in the slot and out and essentially function as a monster-sized wide receiver. In the three seasons leading up to 2022, Gesicki averaged 59 catches for 684 yards and four touchdowns.
Along with JuJu Smith-Schuster, as well as Henry and DeVante Parker, he gives quarterback Mac Jones another big goal to hopefully help the New England offense step forward and move from last season’s disastrous performance.
