Should the Carolina Panthers try and land tight end Mike Gesicki from the Miami Dolphins before their 2022 season opener?
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers have found things difficult replicating Greg Olsen’s production at the tight end position after he left for the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 free agency. Although there is hope that the likes of Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas can benefit from offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s presence, there’s just no telling for sure heading into a crucial campaign.
There hasn’t been much to shout about in terms of tight-end numbers in the preseason. It might be worth the Panthers allocating extra targets to Thomas and Tremble in their final outing before Week 1 to determine if more is needed when competitive action arrives.
The Panthers seem happy to move forward with their current options, even if it was somewhat of a surprise Thomas got a new deal to prevent him from hitting the market this spring. However, general manager Scott Fitterer is always looking at ways to improve the roster and one prominent figure might be on the move based on a recent report.
According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus, the Miami Dolphins have brought up Mike Gesicki‘s name in potential trade talks. Although nothing is confirmed one way or another, it might indicate that the AFC East outfit is receptive to receiving an offer for the Penn State product.
"“The Dolphins, of course, would not cut Gesicki, who’s playing on a fully guaranteed franchise tag this season, but a trade isn’t out of the question. In fact, the Dolphins have “brought up” Gesicki’s name to other teams, a league source told PFF. That doesn’t mean anything will transpire, but Miami has been willing to engage in conversations.”"
Gesicki is one of the league’s most consistent pass-catchers at the tight end spot. He’s gone over 700 receiving yards in consecutive seasons and boasts 13 touchdowns over his four-year career to date.
Carolina Panthers’ trade for Mike Gesicki appears unlikely
Miami thought enough of the former second-round pick to place him under the franchise tag this offseason. Gesicki would certainly be an upgrade on anything the Panthers have right now, but there are serious concerns about his blocking ability that could be a reason why the Dolphins are looking to go in a different direction.
This would be an intriguing pickup by the Panthers. One that would add another exciting layer to an offense that looks set to make improvements with McAdoo calling the shots and Baker Mayfield under center.
However, the prospect of Carolina making a splash in this area of the field is minimal.
That’s not to say Gesicki wouldn’t help. But the Panthers have spent a significant amount of draft capital on veteran players in recent years and could be willing to ride things out with Tremble and Thomas when push comes to shove.
The Dolphins are not going to give Gesicki away. There is also the small matter of $10.93 million fully guaranteed coming his way next season.
If he has a good season, then Gesicki would be looking for a mammoth long-term deal. Something the Panthers might not be able to afford with nearly $30 million to clear off their cap in 2023.
Should Thomas or Tremble fail to meet expectations in 2022, then the Panthers will find better alternatives. And who knows, Gesicki could be on the open market by then in any case.