The Patriots have added another offensive weapon, reportedly signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million.
Gesicki serves as a replacement for -- and, the Patriots hope, an upgrade over -- Jonnu Smith, whom they recently traded to Atlanta.
Gesicki has spent his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, and he was a big part of their offense for a three-year stretch from 2019-21, when he topped 50 catches and 500 yards every year. His best season came in 2021, when he had 73 catches for 780 yards and two touchdowns.
This past season, however, Gesicki found himself in a more limited role in an offense whose passing game ran almost entirely through star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Gesicki played all 17 games, but finished with just 32 catches for 362 yards. He was still involved in the red zone, though, hauling in five touchdowns, which was one shy of his career high.
Gesicki has some familiarity with new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, as O'Brien recruited him to Penn State. Gesicki didn't actually play under O'Brien there, though, as O'Brien had departed for the Houston Texans before his freshman year.
Gesicki is the latest addition as the Patriots retool their offensive weapons. In addition to the Gesicki-for-Smith swap at tight end, they've also replaced Jakobi Meyers with JuJu Smith-Schuster at receiver and signed running back James Robinson, who could be a Damien Harris replacement. It remains to be seen if there's still a bigger move to come.
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