The Patriots didn’t wait for the legal tampering period to open on Monday to start making headlines. About 45 minutes before free agency began, they pulled off a major trade to open up cap space.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have traded tight end Jonnu Smith to the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots will get a seventh-round pick back in the cap clearing move, which should open up about $3.6 million in salary cap space according to Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan.

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• Smith was signed by the Patriots as part of their free agent spending spree in 2021, inking a four-year, $50 million deal. However, he failed to produce up to that contract, catching 55 passes for 539 yards and a touchdown in 19 games in New England.

  With Smith gone the Patriots now have three tight ends under contract for the 2023 season. Hunter Henry returns in the final year of his deal, and Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington are signed to future contracts. Tight end already projected as a need for the Patriots, but now it moves up the list.

  As for Smith, he’ll be reunited in Atlanta with Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who was the tight ends coach and offensive coordinator for Smith during his first four NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Smith will be the backup to 2021 fourth-overall pick Kyle Pitts.

  This move sets the stage for the Patriots as free agency gets underway. The ‘legal tampering period’ opens at noon ET on Monday. Follow our Free Agency Tracker to stay up-to-date on all the moves by the Patriots and other key moves around the league.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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