The Miami Dolphins are ensuring that their star tight end is not going to test the free agent waters this offseason.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins have placed the franchise tag on veteran tight end Mike Gesicki, which will see the 2018 second round draft pick return to Miami for a fifth season.
Gesicki has seen his production rise in each season, and is coming off a career-year in 2021 where he collected 73 receptions for 780 yards.
Gesicki was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he was projected to hit the market with a value of $44 million over four years, per Sportrac. Now, Gesicki and the Dolphins have until July 15th to agree to a long-term deal, and if no deal is completed by then, Gesicki will play the entire 2022 season on the franchise tag of $10.931 million.
Back in January, Gesicki spoke about his happiness in Miami: “I haven’t thought about it this season. I kind of just let it all play out,” he said at the time. “Because it doesn’t matter how much I think about it or don’t think about it, it’s not really up to me. I just kind of go about my business and kind of let everything fall where it may. I do appreciate this organization.
“I’m happy where I’m at and I like the guys, like the locker room, like the coaches. I can go on and on about all the things I like. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.”
