Ogbah, Gesicki make strong case for big new deals
The Dolphins will have 19 unrestricted free agents after the season and a league-leading $77 million in cap space available to re-sign players for 2022.
Mike Gesicki doesn’t particularly like discussing his own impending free agency.
But his buddy Durham Smythe’s free agency? That’s another story entirely.
“He has a new career high [in receiving yardage] so I’m going to wear his jersey in my press conference today and start the initiative to get him paid here by the Miami Dolphins,” Gesicki said Monday. “I figured I’d... start his campaign to be a Miami Dolphin next year and moving forward. So [gen- eral manager] Chris [Grier] if you’re listening, this is my campaign for Durham.”
The Dolphins will have 19 unrestricted free agents after the season and must figure out how much of their leagueleading $77 million in 2022 cap space should be used toward retaining a handful of them, potentially a bit more.
At least four are making a strong case to return: defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, receiver Mack Hollins and tight ends Gesicki and Smythe. But Smythe — who has been playing well — could be viewed as expendable after Miami used a third-round pick on Hunter Long in April’s
NFL Draft.
Hollins and Smythe aren’t likely to be particularly pricey if the Dolphins decide to retain both. Ogbah and Gesicki will be costly, however.
The Dolphins and Ogbah’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have spoken for months about an extension, Rosenhaus said on his WSVN-Fox TV segment recently.
But the price might be rising amid Ogbah’s recent play, a six-game stretch that includes 28 quarterback pressures and at least one batted pass in each game.
And an extension would be difficult now because the Dolphins have less than $1 million in cap space.
For the season, Ogbah’s 45 pressures rank seventh-most among edge players, per Pro Football Focus.
His five sacks are tied for 31st in the league overall.
He has knocked away eight passes this season, which matches his career high (2018) and is the most by an NFL defensive lineman this season.
Pro Football Focus ranks him 18th overall among all edge defend
ers, ahead of dozens of players — including former Pro Bowlers Shaquil Barrett and Melvin Ingram and now-injured Chase Young, the second pick of the 2020 Draft.
Among 108 qualifying edge players, PFF ranks him 38th against the run.
“Emmanuel has been a good leader, leads by example,” said defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, who’s typically measured in his praise of players. “The things he’s doing for us have been consistent. He’s worked really hard to improve some things that haven’t gone his way. We’re seeing production from him on the field.”
Using the franchise tag on Ogbah would be highly unlikely. The projected 2022 franchise tag for a defensive end is $20.2 million, according to overthecap.com.
Meanwhile, Gesicki ranks fifth among tight ends in receptions with
49, behind Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson and Darren Waller. Gesicki ranks fifth among tight ends in receiving yardage at 549, behind Kelce, Waller, Kyle Pitts and Andrews.
PFF ranks him 16th among all tight ends, ahead of former Pro Bowlers Zach Ertz and Waller, among others.
Dallas Goedert’s fouryear, $59 million extension with the Eagles last week could be a good harbinger for Gesicki.
In 3 ½ NFL seasons, Gesicki has 175 receptions for 2,054 yards and 13 touchdown receptions in 58 games.
That compares with 171 catches for 1,956 yards and 14 TDs in 52 games
for Goedert, who’s considered the better blocker.
But Gesicki didn’t want to speculate on what Goedert’s deal could mean for him contractually.
“I’m happy for him; he’s a good player,” Gesicki said. “I like Dallas a lot. He got exactly what he deserved.”
The Dolphins and Gesicki didn’t discuss a contract extension in the summer, and it’s unclear if the Dolphins will try to get a deal done before the spring, which is highly challenging because of Miami’s minimal cap space before the new league year starts in midMarch.
The Dolphins also could use the franchise tag on him, which would give him a 2022 salary and cap hit of $10.8 million.
Gesicki’s open campaigning for a contract extension for Smythe was the most amusing moment of Dolphins’ press conferences this week.
“He’s a good player, has a lot of success, does a lot of things — special teams, offense, blocking, receiving,” Gesicki said. “Did it take a trick play to get him an 18-yard catch? It sure did. But nonetheless, nobody knows it on the stat sheet.
“Durham is a guy that goes under the radar and I’m just trying to elevate his [stock]; he is not even on the Pro Bowl ballot. Just get him on there. I’ll have to get in touch with NFL.com.”
Smythe’s 221 receiving yards (on 20 catches) are already a career high. He had a combined 39 receptions during his first three NFL seasons.
Pro Football Focus rates him 43rd of 71 tight ends; teammate Adam Shaheen, who’s under contract next season, is 42nd.
As run blockers, PFF
rates Shaheen 20th and Smythe 38th.
Smythe isn’t a sure bet to be re-signed because of the presence of Long, who has been inactive most games and has played only 29 offensive snaps.
But Dolphins coaches always rave about Smythe’s value.
“He quietly goes about his business; he’s consistent,” co-offensive coordinator Eric Studesville said Tuesday. “That’s what we’re looking for, dependable players. He’s being physical on line of scrimmage. He’s catching passes. I feel happy for us that we have him because he’s a valuable part of what we do.”
Hollins, always an asset on special teams, has shown his value as a receiver over his past 13 games, beginning with the big 34-yard late reception in the Week 16 win at Las Vegas, and following that with three touchdowns on 12 receptions this season, including the 65-yarder on Sunday. He’s averaging 14.8 yards per catch.
The Dolphins’ other impending unrestricted free agents: receivers Will Fuller, Isaiah Ford and Albert Wilson; backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett; cornerback Justin Coleman; linebackers Elandon Roberts, Duke Riley and Brennan Scarlett; running back Malcolm Brown; punter Michael Palardy; safety Jason McCourty; defensive tackle John Jenkins; and centers Austin Reiter, Cameron Tom and Greg Mancz.
Cornerback Nik Needham, receiver Preston Williams and linebacker Sam Eguavoen will be restricted free agents.