The Miami Dolphins have been deliberate this offseason to start taking care of members of their 2018 NFL draft class. The 1st-round pick, Minkah Fitzpatrick, will have been gone for two years come September. But there are still a number of other productive members of the class, including kicker Jason Sanders and linebacker Jerome Baker. Both have received contract extensions with the team in recent months.
But the team’s highest selected player from that class, tight end Mike Gesicki, is in a bit of limbo — he has no new contract and Miami brought in two additional prominent tight ends this offseason. And now, according to a report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, there appears to be no end in sight to the uncertainty of Gesicki and the Dolphins.
“We hear there is nothing percolating on the contract front with tight end Mike Gesicki at this time.
It’s unclear what to make of that. Perhaps the Dolphins are waiting until everyone gets back from vacation. Perhaps they’re waiting to see how Gesicki and rookie third-round pick Hunter Long play this year.
Regardless, Gesicki is in good position to snag a very good contract in free agency next March if he doesn’t re-sign with the Dolphins before that.” — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald
As Jackson points out, the lack of progress in talks between the parties doesn’t have to be ominous. But it isn’t necessarily reassuring when you look at the full scale of the situation, including the additions of Cethan Carter and Hunter Long to the roster this offseason. Gesicki will have this season yet to declare himself an invaluable piece of the puzzle. And unless things change once the Dolphins convene for training camp, the fourth-year tight end may well need every last game to help convince Miami he’s worth the long-term commitment.