With the 42nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected TE Mike Gesicki from Penn State — a receiving threat with explosive athleticism and a knack for making big plays down the field. Just seven picks later, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted their own tight end: South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert, who was felt by many to be the best tight end prospect in the class.
Fast forward to Week 13 of the 2019 NFL season and these two players are facing the first time sharing the field together as professionals. Gesicki figures to command a fair share of targets, given the lack of depth for Miami’s pass catchers. Goedert? He may be bracing for the biggest game of his young NFL career as Eagles’ star TE Zach Ertz continues to battle through a hamstring injury.
Should Ertz not play, the Dolphins will see their reality and their alternate reality on the field simultaneously at Hard Rock Stadium in a chance to hopefully feel vindicated over the selection of Gesicki back in April, 2018.
To this point in their careers, the arrow points towards Goedert being the better pro. Goedert has the edge over Gesicki in receptions (64 to 53), yards (623 to 524) and touchdowns (8-1). All of that despite playing as the TE2 in Philadelphia behind Ertz, who has logged 183 receptions for 1,875 yards and 11 touchdowns in those 27 games in which he’s shared the roster with Goedert.
The good news for Miami? Gesicki is at least starting to turn the corner. He’s experienced career highs in receptions and yards in November (against the Jets) and scored his first career touchdown last week against the Browns. The second year tight end still needs to find more separation on his routes and continue to play with more physicality, but at least he’s become honed in enough to find soft spots in the defense and then use his speed after the catch.
Tight ends are traditionally the position requiring the most time to transition into the NFL, as they’re asked to fill a lot of roles versus their college experience. That’s true for Gesicki, but the Dolphins are still hoping to see their 2018 tight end come out on top of the head to head action.
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