Kelly: Dolphins Should Heed Lessons From Gesicki Days
The Miami Dolphins finally stopped doubling down on the Mike Gesicki mistake, and eventually the team will be better off for it.
Now the one-dimensional tight end, who telegraphs the play-caller’s intentions with his presence on the field, will become a Bill Belichick problem — or reclamation project — because Gesicki and the New England Patriots have agreed on a one-year deal that reportedly could pay him as much as $9 million.
Don’t be surprised if Gesicki’s base salary comes in around the $6-7 million a year range because it’s more realistic that the Patriots are paying Gesicki like he’s a slot receiver because that’s honestly what he is.
The brilliance of Belichick likely is motivating him to make the same mistake Adam Gase, Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel’s coaching staff made with Gesicki. The future Hall of Fame coach might have convinced himself that good coaching can teach Gesicki how to block.
Lord knows the Dolphins have been trying to do that for five seasons, with minimal improvement.
IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON FROM GESICKI
Thankfully the organization finally decided it was time to pivot, and moved on from the pass-catching specialist they selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.
That was the first mistake. Miami never should have drafted the former Penn State standout so high, especially after acknowledging he wasn't a good blocker in college.
Dallas Goedert, who was taken seven picks after Gesicki by the Eagles, and Mark Andrews, who was selected 44 picks after Gesicki by the Ravens, both were better choices. They’ve had superior careers to Gesicki, and each still has his arrow pointed upwards when it comes to career arch.
Can we say the same about Gesicki, who has caught 231 passes for 2,617 yards and 18 touchdowns the past five seasons?
Instead of selecting those all-purpose tight ends, the Dolphins chose Gesicki, and then doubled down on the position, drafting Durham Smythe as an in-line tight end in the fourth round of the same draft because he was a solid blocker.
That's right, Miami used two picks in the same draft to address one position (mistake No. 2).
Smythe, who was re-signed to a manageable two-year, $7 million deal last offseason, started more career games than Gesicki during the same five-year period. He wound up playing more offensive snaps than Gesicki last year because it benefited McDaniel’s play-calling.
A healthy Gesicki played the second-fewest offensive snaps in his career last year, and that’s because he didn’t fit this offense, which the Dolphins brass knew before they placed the franchise tag on him.
That was a total waste of $10.9 million, which was mistake No. 3.
DURHAM SMYTHE ALWAYS THE BETTER PLAYER
Smythe, who for the moment is penciled in as the Dolphins’ starter, probably will never be the offensive weapon Gesicki is. He’s caught just 88 passes for 809 yards and scored three touchdowns in the 79 games he’s played the past five seasons.
But he’s a better all-around player, and someone who actually can help your team on special teams.
Does Miami need to upgrade the tight end position? Absolutely, especially after trading Hunter Long, a 2021 third-round pick, to the Los Angeles Rams in the deal that produced Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Even after signing Eric Saubert, the Dolphins need to invest a draft pick in an all-purpose tight end. How much of a priority it should be depends on who is available when Miami is on the clock, but I'd definitely use Miami's second-round pick to address that need.
But we’re talking about a position that likely will serve as a fourth or fifth option on most plays considering this offense will run through Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and get balanced out by the platoon of tailbacks.
That doesn’t even account for the slot receiver (maybe Braxton Berrios), who likely will split playing time with the tight end.
That’s why Gesicki’s exit doesn’t sting, and his signing with an AFC East rival should evoke a shoulder shrug.
No matter how well Gesicki plays in New England, his career never would have taken off in Miami. Not in this offense, with his suspect blocking, and these weapons.
So even if he becomes a perennial Pro Bowl selection, the biggest reclamation project of Belichick’s career, it was in Miami’s best interest to move on, righting a wrong made five years ago, on which the organization unwisely kept doubling down.
