The Patriots reportedly have found a replacement for Jonnu Smith, and you easily could argue they made an upgrade.
New England agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with former Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, ESPN's Field Yates reported Friday morning, citing a source. Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report news of Gesicki's signing.
The deal arrived just four days after the Patriots traded Smith to the Atlanta Falcons in a salary dump. Smith was a major disappointment during his two tears in New England after signing a lucrative contract in 2021.
Gesicki, 27, is coming off a down season. Never a good fit in Mike McDaniel's offense, which requires tight ends to get out and block in open space, the receiving-first Gesicki caught just 32 passes for 362 yards and five touchdowns.
However, he was one of the NFL's more productive tight ends in the previous three seasons.
Gesicki caught 51 passes for 570 yards and five scores in 2019 before posting 53 catches for 703 yards and six touchdowns the following season. He then racked up a career-high 73 catches on 112 targets for 780 yards and two TDs in 2021.
The 2018 second-round pick projects to form a solid pass-catching duo with fellow tight end Hunter Henry. Both players are scheduled to hit free agency next offseason.
