15 Patriots Who Won't Return for the 2024 Season

12. Mike Gesicki

Mike Gesicki made the intra-divisional switch in March from the Miami Dolphins to the New England Patriots on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. When Gesicki and the Patriots came to an agreement, the hope was that he and Hunter Henry could form a formidable tight end duo similar to many of the productive TE duos New England had employed in the past. However, Gesicki's production paled in comparison to his time in South Florida.

In his first five NFL seasons with the Dolphins, he averaged 74 targets, 46.2 catches, 3.6 touchdowns, and 523 yards receiving. In 2023, Gesicki was limited to 45 targets, 29 catches, 244 yards, and only two touchdowns. As the season progressed, it also became clear that the team didn't trust him as a run blocker and he became one-dimensional as a pass catcher.

In fairness to Gesicki, it is difficult to accurately grade any of the offensive weapons given the poor quarterback play and overall inefficiency of the offense.

Gesicki did provide Patriots fans with one of the few high points of the season, catching a one-yard touchdown from Mac Jones with eight seconds left to seal a 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7.

Obviously, it is challenging to gauge which offensive players do or don't have a place in new offensive coordinator's Alex Van Pelt's offense at this point, but Gesicki would likely be better suited in an open spread offense with NFL-level quarterback play than in a return to New England.