The Patriots are signing former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year, $9 million deal for the 2023 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Miami drafted Mike Gesicki in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft out of Penn State, and the tight end had a solid five seasons with the team. Gesicki’s best two seasons came in 2020 and ’21. He surpassed 700 receiving yards both seasons, including a career high 73 catches in 2021.
Last year, however, Gesicki had a down year with just 362 receiving yards on 32 catches. He did have five touchdowns on the year, the third season when he totaled that many scores.
Gesicki fills Jonnu Smith’s spot on the New England roster, as the Patriots traded Smith to the Falcons this week. He will also sit behind Hunter Henry on the tight end depth chart, as Henry was the team’s third-leading receiver last year with over 500 yards.
By joining the Patriots, Gesicki will play under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, the coach who recruited him to Penn State. However, Gesicki never got to play for him as O’Brien became the Texans coach ahead of Gesicki’s freshman year.
