The Miami Dolphins decided to use their franchise tag on tight end Mike Gesicki.
The designation will earn the former Penn State standout a one-year, guaranteed deal worth $11 million.
That tag value is based on the average of the top five cap hits in the position last season.
The franchise tag for a tight end is one of the cheapest for the 2022 season.
More importantly, putting Gesicki on the tag gives the Dolphins more time to strike a long-term deal with him.
Otherwise, another team might sign him in free agency.
But it seems like the Dolphins saved more money in designating Gesicki as a tight end instead of a wide receiver.
There’s a case to be made that Mike Gesicki should be franchise tagged as a WR instead of a TE, and there’s $7.5M on the line should he file a grievance for it.
Tag Values
WR: $18.4M
TE: $10.9M https://t.co/ZV1nmxIiEs— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 8, 2022
Spotrac said, “There’s a case to be made that Mike Gesicki should be franchise tagged as a WR instead of a TE, and there’s $7.5M on the line should he file a grievance for it.”
In today’s NFL, tight ends are used more of a receiver than an extra offensive lineman.
Therefore, this grey area is something other teams might exploit over the years.
The Case For Gesicki Getting Tagged As A Wideout
Spotrac posted its tweet as a response to ESPN reporter Field Yates’ update.
Yates painted a picture wherein Gesicki lined up in various places around the field, except for alongside the offensive line.
He said that during the 2021 season, Gesicki lined up in the slot 402 times, wide 218 times, tight 140 times, and in the backfield 24 times.
If that’s the case, Gesicki is more of a wide receiver than a tight end.
However, chasing that $7.5M might have an adverse effect on the negotiations for a long-term deal.
Therefore, it would be better to prove himself on the field and elevate his stock.
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