A look at where Miami Dolphins could turn if they don’t re-sign Mike Gesicki
Part 4 of a 10-part series examining Dolphins positions from various angles, with today’s piece a second look at tight ends.
Among the Dolphins’ biggest offseason decisions: whether to invest $11 million to $13 million annually in glorified receiver Mike Gesicki — one of the best receiving tight ends in football — or find a more affordable tight end with decent pass catching skills but better blocking skills.
New coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier must determine whether Gesicki’s skill set is conductive for McDaniel’s offense, which requires its tight ends (or at least most of them) to be effective blockers, and what salary they’re comfortable paying him. We explained that issue in this piece Monday.
The Dolphins have enough cap space — $74 million with the ability to clear out $100 million — to keep their top two free agents (Gesicki and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah) and fill other needs.
If the Dolphins don’t keep Gesicki, where could they turn for a tight end to supplement Durham Smythe (an impending free agent), third-round pick Hunter Long (who had just one reception and played just 90 offensive snaps as a rookie) and veteran Adam Shaheen?
Besides Gesicki (73 catches, 780 yards) and Smythe (34 catches, 357 yards), here’s a look at who else will be available in unrestricted free agency:
▪ Zach Ertz (74 catches, 763 yards): Arizona last season acquired the three-time Pro Bowl tight end from Philadelphia for cornerback Tay Gowan and a fifth-round pick, and it would be surprising if the Cardinals don’t make an attempt to keep him.
Ertz made $8.25 million in 2021 in the final year of a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension he signed with the Eagles in 2016. In September, he expressed frustration with the Eagles after negotiations for a long-term deal broke down, prompting the trade to Arizona.
Pro Football Focus rated Gesicki ahead of Ertz this season (21st to 29th among 70 tight ends).
Ertz was rated a comparable run blocker (61st, compared to Gesicki’s 63rd), which is telling because blocking isn’t a strength for Gesicki.
Ertz would be as costly — probably more so — than Gesicki. And his blocking numbers were worrisome last season.
▪ Dallas’ Dalton Schultz (78 catches, 808 yards): Has shot up to the top tier of available tight ends with a fourth consecutive year of improving, building on his 63-catch season of a year ago. He’s also a solid blocker, and CBS’ Joel Corry predicts he could make $12.5 million in a new deal.
PFF rates him sixth overall among all tight ends and 15th as a run blocker. Last season, he had 65 pass blocking snaps (compared with 11 for Gesicki) and 355 run blocking snaps (compared with 234 for Gesicki).
So this is the type of complete tight end who would thrive in McDaniel’s system.
▪ The Giants’ Evan Engram (46 catches, 408 yards): Like Gesicki, he’s primarily a pass catching tight end, though there has been some improvement in blocking.
His numbers aren’t as nearly good as Gesicki’s, and he has never been able to match or exceed his 2017 rookie numbers (64 receptions and 722 yards).
PFF rates him 64th among all 70 qualifying tight ends and 62nd as a run blocker.
▪ Cleveland’s David Njoku (36 catches, 475 yards): The former UM star has tantalized at times, catching 15 touchdowns in five seasons, but he has topped 40 catches and 500 receiving yards only once (56 for 639 in 2018).
PFF rates him 14th overall among all tight ends and 23rd as a run blocker.
▪ Minnesota’s Tyler Conklin (61 catches, 593 yards): In his fourth year overall and first year as a starter, Conklin increased his production exponentially from 2020 (19 catches, 194 yards).
He’s also a capable blocker and cheaper than Gesicki, but not as dangerous a receiving threat. In some ways, he’s similar to Smythe.
PFF rates Conklin 25th overall and 50th as a run blocker.
▪ C.J. Uzomah (49 catches, 493 yards). He emerged for the Bengals this past season, setting career highs in yards and receptions. PFF ranked him 39th overall and 38th as a run blocker.
He would be cheaper than Gesicki and could share time with Long and Shaheen and potentially Smythe.
▪ Seattle’s Gerald Everett (48 catches, 478 yards). He’s solid as a run-blocker, not quite as good in pass protection. Another option more affordable than Gesicki.
▪ Pittsburgh’s Eric Ebron (12 catches, 84 yards). He had 56 catches for 558 yards in 2020 — in the first year of a two-year, $12 million deal with the Steelers — but had only 12 catches for 84 yards in eight games this season before being placed on injured reserve in November with a knee injury.
He’s only 28, and three years removed from a 13-touchdown season with the Colts.
▪ Arizona’s Maxx Williams: The Cardinals acquired Ertz after starting tight end Williams was lost to a season-ending knee injury in Week 5.
Besides being a skilled blocker, Williams had developed as a receiver last season, catching 16 of his 17 targets for 193 yards and a touchdown in the five games before the injury.
His high for receptions and yards in a season happened as a Baltimore rookie in 2015, when he caught 32 for 268.
PFF projects him to get a three-year, $18.7 million contract.
▪ The Rams’ Jared Cook (47 catches for 564 yards). The positives: He’s an accomplished NFL veteran who can help as a receiver and blocker. The bad news: He’s 34.
▪ The unlikely pair of Rob Gronkowski (likely isn’t going to leave Tampa Bay if he plays at all) and past-his-prime Jimmy Graham (14 for 167).
▪ The 49ers’ Ross Dwelley. He’s on this list primarily because McDaniel worked with him in San Francisco. He caught four passes for 51 yards in 17 games and two starts last season. He has 40 catches for 401 yards in four seasons with the 49ers.
▪ Besides Gesicki and Smythe and the aforementioned players, here are the other looming unrestricted free agent tight ends:
Indianapolis’ Mo-Alie Cox, Green Bay’s Robert Tonyan Jr., Tennessee’s Anthony Firkser, Tampa Bay’s O.J. Howard, Atlanta’s Hayden Hurst, Tennessee’s Geoff Swain, the Jets’ Tyler Kroft, Chicago’s Jesse James, San Francisco’s Ross Dwelley, Washington’s Ricky-Seals Jones, Tennessee’s MyCole Pruitt; the Chargers’ Stephen Anderson, Houston’s Jordan Akins, Carolina’s Ian Thomas, Minnesota’s Chris Herndon; and Seattle’s Will Dissly.
▪ The draft has one potential late-first, early-second round tight end in Colorado State’s Trey McBride; ESPN’s Todd McShay has suggested he’s worthy of consideration for Miami at No. 29.
“This draft lacks a premier TE but the depth is outstanding; you’ll be able to find potential starters in the 4th/5th round this year,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said.
Mel Kiper Jr.’s top five tight ends: 1). McBride; 2). Coastal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely; 3). UCLA’s Greg Dulcich; 4). Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M; and 5). Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert.
▪ A quick note on Smythe, who set career highs in receptions and yards: Coaches have consistently praised his versatility and value. But PF rated him just 47th overall among 70 tight ends and 55th as a blocker.
By contrast, Shaheen — who’s under contract next season — was rated 48th overall and 20th as a run blocker.
With Shaheen and Long under contract, the Dolphins could revamp the other half of their tight end room if they don’t strike a deal with Gesicki.
Here’s part 1 of the series on Tua Tagovailoa.
Here’s part 2 of the series on Dolphins’ wide receivers.
Here’s part 3 of the series on Gesicki.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 1:06 PM.
