'Franchise' Tag Hardly Matters For Dolphins' Star Tight End For Now

The franchise tag is a measure of NFL teams who would get control over a player, and this seems to be the case with Mike Gesicki.

Although it means getting big money for a least one NFL season, it deprives any NFL player of seeking long-term contracts.

Considering he is coming off an eventful 2021-22 season, the 26-year-old prefers to just look at it differently--at least for now.

“It’s obviously not the goal, the end-all, be-all goal. It’s definitely more team-friendly than it is player-friendly. But just giving me more reasons to come back here, continue to work hard and continue to be motivated and get back to work and help this team win football games and hopefully eventually get what I deserve moving forward,” Gesicki stated in a report from the Sun-Sentinel.

The New Jersey native recently tied the knot with his wife Halle last March 4.

After Miami wrapped up its last NFL run, the focus of Gesicki was on the wedding and honeymoon rather than contract negotiations.

“I wasn’t even worried about the contract,” Gesicki said in a report from the Miami Herald. “I was in Bora Bora on my honeymoon, and it’s like a six-hour difference in time. It was 3:00 a.m., and my agent texted me. He’s like, ‘Hey, they’re tagging you.’ I was like, ‘Okay.’”

With the "franchise" tag used on him, Gesicki is set to get at least $10.9 million for the coming season.

However, the amount of money could be more if he appeals for the tight-end designation.

The value for a receiver is $18.4 million–clearly showing a difference of $7.5 million.

When an appeal of that kind is filed, the two sides often meet through arbitration, meaning Gesicki could then get somewhere around $14 million.

But in all, Gesicki is determined to perform next NFL season. The Dolphins will be employing a new system under new coach Mike McDaniel.

“I’m excited to play for him and work for him and do everything I can to earn his trust,” Gesicki stated.

Aside from that, the revamped offensive line of the Dolphins is something that he is looking forward to.

Miami acquired Tyreek Hill who should factor in well with the team’s running game.