Asked today about a report that the Dolphins are looking to trade tight end Mike Gesicki, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t exactly deny it, but he suggested that there was less to it than meets the eye. McDaniel said the Dolphins are always engaged in talks about who will and won’t be on their roster at this time of year, but they’re not making a specific effort to move Gesicki. McDaniel said that if there’s any reporting on what the Dolphins are doing with their roster, it should mention a whole lot of players, and not single out Gesicki. “The report is misleading because there should be a lot of names on that report,” McDaniel said. That’s not a full-throated endorsement of keeping Gesicki on the 53-man roster, but McDaniel did say Gesicki had a great week of practice. The Dolphins put the franchise tag on Gesicki in March, and he promptly signed it, guaranteeing himself a $10.9 million salary this season. It’s possible that the Dolphins now think that’s more cap space than he’s worth, and that they’d be willing to trade him if some other team wants to take that contract off their hands. But one way or another, Gesicki is guaranteed that $10.9 million.
I wonder who would be interested in a player Gesicki who is essentially a WR playing TE. Maybe somebody like Green Bay who could do with surrounding a few more solid hands around Rodgers this year but even then what value does a TE on $11 million for 1 year hold?
That's a two-sided coin. If you consider Gisecki one of the top slot receivers in the game, then he should be closer to the $18-22M numbers. So I think he'd appeal to quite a few teams, actually. However, I don't think we're looking to move on unless it's in a trade that gives us a ROI for this season. A starting tackle, a starting LB, something like that. We would not move him for cap reasons or just because he's not wanted...he's absolutely wanted in Miami. But we'd move him for the right trade that benefits us today.
I like Gisecki…I really like him. He’s such an exciting player to watch. He’s made some spectacular catches and has been a go to for Tagovailoa. But Gisecki has had difficulty in adapting to McDaniel’s offensive scheme. Although he is listed as a TE, he’s played more a receiver and has never really been much of a blocker; something key in McDaniel’s offense…blocking TEs. But, with the franchise tag on him, it’s highly unlikely we’re going to see him as a Dolphin next season. I don’t want to do it, I really don’t but if we’re going to lose him next season to free agency, it would make sense to explore a trade option…see if we can’t get something for him. Otherwise, he’s gone next season anyway and we will have nothing to show for it. Just wish there was a way we could keep him long term.
If they can get a 2nd and a 5th like Hurst got, I would do it in a minute. He doesn't fit this offense and other than a few one handed catches a year he really brings nothing else to the table. He can't break a tackle and often gets beat by smaller corners on jump balls. I would be more than fine with a Smythe/Long combo going into the season. Smythe is damn underrated.
Hey man, you and I agree on something for once. Aside from the occasional circus catch, Gesicki has not done much of anything for us. If they can get some value for him now do it.
Gisecki has done two things for us: 1. He's been a consistent target for Tua over the middle and possibly our best deep threat the past few seasons. 2. He's stayed healthy and deserves a ton of the credit for late-season runs when Parker and other starters were nursing injuries. Maybe that doesn't seem like much, but we don't win in the past few Novembers/Decembers without him on the field playing the WR2 role.
We did not win in November and December because of Gesicki, you are giving him way too much credit. And yes he is a seam threat. The only thing he is good for is attacking the seems. Other than that he has a very limited skillset, and can't block even if his life depended on it. I mean he is one dimensional, and he's not even that good in the one dimension. Compare his numbers to Mark Andrews for example, the guy we passed on for Gesicki, who is a lot better reciever and can also block.
If we could get a competent RT for him, I’d make the trade. Going into the season with Jackson protecting Tua’s blind side is a frightening proposition. That being said, I doubt a competent RT would be available at this point…..
Austin Jackson protecting anything is a frightening proposition. Even if he was just asked to protect a bag of footballs, or the gatorade on the sidelines I'd have major concerns. He's completely useless in protection. As for Gesicki though; I'm not sure I want to us to move him. The more weapons we have the better off we will be. He's big, tall, can pull down some erratic throws or jump balls. Unless we have a plan to fill a major need with that 10.9 million if we move him I don't see the point. Find a way to use the guy and his talent/skills that he does possess. Nothing I hate more than hearing "he doesn't fit the offense"... He's on your roster, he's costing you 10.9m which makes him hard to part with this year, so rather than saying he doesnt fit... find a way to make him fit and use him to his strengths. Other concern becomes if we move Gesicki... who replaces him at TE? Smythe? Ingold? Hunter Long? Our options aren't really great with what's on the current roster.
Where he "fits" is at slot receiver, which is where he's taken about 70-80% of his snaps the past few seasons anyway. It's almost silly that we're still pretending he's a TE.
Right, but I much prefer the look of our offense with Hill, Waddle, Wilson and Gesicki out there together if possible. I haven't been paying attention at all to camp or the preseason though so I have no real clue what McDaniel is trying to accomplish with this offensive unit. I've recorded the games just haven't bothered to watch them yet. I just think the more playmakers we have out there the better, and if we don't have a replacement plan or a better option or two for that 10.9m cap space that can make an impact on the current team why dump the guy. Sure, better to get something for him than nothing if he ultimately decides to leave after this season, but the window is open now for this team with the new offense they've built I think.
I would assume he would compliment what they have but maybe McDaniel would rather these looks going to Wilson or Ezukanma. Or maybe they feel like Hunter Long has improved enough that he should get more playing time.
I feel like watching this preseason, my suspicions are confirmed that Gesicki might not be the ideal fit for this offense. Lemme say, I am a huge Gesicki fan, and his passion for the game reminds me of Jarvis Landry. I really do think that the commenters who have said that he is a WR playing TE are essentially right. I think we are gonna get his production elsewhere. Wilson and Ezukanma are the likeliest of candidates. I do think that part of being a good organization is doing what is right by the players. If he wants to be traded, I would work to facilitate this. I am not saying that I would give him away, but if I could get fair compensation for him, I think putting him in a system where he could be successful feels like the right thing to do.
Let him play the slot and turn the to the other tight ends to play that position.He has value as a receiver let the others do more of the blocking.He's more than likely gone after this season anyway.
I mean if you play him solely as a receiver where does he fit in our depth chart? Does he get ahead of Wilson and Ez-E?
I'd think yes, just because of his experience? That's sort of like comparing a new Corvette to a Tesla truck to a high end Mercedes SUV- which is better? Everyone would have a different answer that could depend on what they're doing that day.
2 big problems for big Mike…. 1)His blocking 2) He catches the ball and falls down. McDaniel prioritizes players who thrive at both. Even if he isn’t traded. Safe to say his snap percentage will fall off a cliff this year with a true slot WR here (Wilson).