Miami’s 3 good choices

Top draft picks closing in on starting spots

DAVIE — Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki hardly has a rookie mindset.

He had one goal the moment he was drafted with the No. 42 pick in the second round earlier this year.

He wanted to be a starter when the season began. So far, he’s on pace to achieve that. He is one of three potential first-year starters, joining linebacker Jerome Baker and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

“You’re not coming out here every day just to be a backup or anything like that,” Gesicki said. “But at the same time, you have to come out here with the right mindset, right attitude and just put your best foot forward and then let everything else fall where it may.”

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Gesicki gives the Dolphins an added dimension, especially in the red zone because of his height. Coach Adam Gase said his presence could also benefit the running game.

“It just gives us options,” Gase said. “Really, it kind of goes on the defense of how they are going to play us, and then we kind of have to react to that.”

Like Gesicki, Fitzpatrick has been an impact rookie since his arrival. He has impressed mostly with a high football IQ and physicality. With the exception of ad- justing to a higher level, the transition has been smooth. It was expected the moment Gase received a text message from running back Kenyan Drake when they drafted Fitzpatrick in the first round.

Drake and Fitzpatrick played one season together at Alabama.

“Drake texted me and goes, ‘You

TAIMY ALVAREZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jerome Baker, above, is expected to start at linebacker along side Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan.