While most people focus on the seemingly inevitable A.J. Brown trade, the New England Patriots could use some help elsewhere. Granted, the need for a true No. 1 wide receiver is evident, but that's not the only position the team should address before training camp.
Hunter Henry will return for another season, and his chemistry with Drake Maye is more than evident. Nevertheless, this team doesn't have another reliable option at tight end with Julian Hill, rookie Eli Raridon, and CJ Dippre currently sitting behind him in the pecking order.
The Patriots should eye the free agent market for another proven pass-catching tight end — more specifically, one they actually know quite well. ESPN's Matt Bowen recently listed former Patriot Jonnu Smith as the 12th-best remaining free agent, and a return to Foxborough would make perfect sense.
"A motion/movement tight end, Smith was released by the Steelers. He can impact the pass game in a system that caters to his alignment versatility and ability to run after the catch. Smith had 38 receptions in Pittsburgh last season, and 68.4% of his career receiving totals have come after the catch," Bowen wrote.
Jonnu Smith could quietly solve an under-the-radar problem for the Patriots
Many Patriots fans may not necessarily be high on Smith. New England signed him to a four-year, $50 million deal before the 2021 season after he turned plenty of heads with the Tennessee Titans. But he failed to live up to the hype in Foxborough. All in all, he hauled in just 55 of 83 targets for 539 yards and one touchdown before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
Smith revived his career after leaving the Patriots, including an eight-touchdown, Pro Bowl season with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He failed to keep the momentum going last season with the Steelers, logging just 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He was a part of a logjam at the position, though, with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington also getting touches in Pittsburgh.
Smith is only 30 and, to be fair, it's hard to judge any Patriots player for his numbers in 2021 and 2022. Drake Maye is not Mac Jones, and a lot has transpired since the moment they traded Smith for a 2023 seventh-round draft pick.
He's familiar with coach Mike Vrabel from their days in Tennessee, and with a projected market value of just $7.3 million from Spotrac, the Patriots should give him another chance to thrive in Foxborough.
Add us as a preferred source on Google