Patriots host two free agent tight ends for tryouts
The Patriots hosted free agent tight ends Irv Smith and Zaire Mitchell-Paden for tryouts on Friday. As the Patriots get ready to face the Bengals in their season opener on…
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 17: Irv Smith Jr. #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals is chased by Geno Stone #26 of the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesThe Patriots hosted free agent tight ends Irv Smith and Zaire Mitchell-Paden for tryouts on Friday.
As the Patriots get ready to face the Bengals in their season opener on Sunday, the team continues doing its due diligence in the free agent market. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, veteran free agent tight ends Irv Smith and Zaire Mitchell-Paden were in Foxborough on Friday for "tryouts."
Smith, 26, was a second-round pick out of Alabama by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019. He spent his first three years in Minnesota, before stops with the Bengals and Chiefs. Last year in Cincinnati Smith played in 12 games catching 18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound tight end then spent this summer with the Chiefs before being released as part of final roster cuts.
Dylan Buell/Getty Images<em><sup>Irv Smith visited the Patriots on Friday. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)</sup></em>
Mitchell-Paden, 25, entered the NFL as a UDFA out of FAU in 2022. He was signed by the Browns, where he played for current Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. However, he never appeared in a game for Cleveland. This preseason he caught eight passes for 82 yards before being waived during final roster cuts.
This isn't the first time the Patriots have looked into the free agent tight end market in recent weeks. Late in training camp the team hosted Neal Johnson for a visit. Johnson ended up signing with the Vikings before getting cut and the end of camp, and is once again a free agent.
Entering Week 1 the Patriots have three tight ends on their roster in Hunter Henry (who was removed from the injury report on Friday), Austin Hooper, and rookie Jahiem Bell. They also have Mitchell Wilcox on the practice squad.
