Patriots Trade TE Jonnu Smith to Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are trading for New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith, officially declaring his pricy free agent deal a failure in Foxboro.

FOXBORO — The New England Patriots and tight end Jonnu Smith will be parting ways in 2023. 

According to an NFL Network report, the Patriots have agreed to trade the talented, but ill-fitted tight end to the Atlanta Falcons.

Smith struggled throughout his two years in New England, since joining them as a free agent in 2021. The ex-Tennessee Titan was only phased into the passing game periodically, while being used primarily as a blocker. As a Patriot, Smith totaled 55 catches for 539 yards and just one touchdown over 30 games in both seasons. 

Pairing fellow 2021 free agent acquisition Hunter Henry alongside a prototypical ‘move’ tight end like Smith was expected to allow the Patriots to run 12-man personnel, featuring two equally potent tight end options. Combined with a sizable offensive line and a capable running game, New England was expected to excel in several play action schemes: reminiscent of new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s days of coaching Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

Unfortunately, that was seldom the case. The duo only shared the field for 18.6 percent of New England’s offensive snaps in 2021, and a mere 18 percent in 2022. A conservative coaching approach from Josh McDaniels in 2021, while getting a rookie quarterback and two now tight ends acclimated into a difficult system to learn made the pair destined to struggle. The combination of offensive coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge leading the Pats offensive charge in 2022 yielded only similarly dismal results.

The move re-unites Smith with his former Tennessee Titans tight ends coach – and current Falcons head coach – Arthur Smith. The latter Smith was the former’s coach when he was drafted by the Titans in the third round (100 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

Now, Smith gets a fresh start elsewhere and the Pats re-shuffle the deck while gaining some cap relief.

New England now gains an increase of $3,668,529 in their cap space for 2023, per Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan. The Patriots also created $18.405M in cap space for the 2024 season, as the Pats will shed the $12.81 million in dead money from Smith's deal 

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Here's hoping the below screenshot explains the cap impact of today's trade. pic.twitter.com/rSKuMjgjFC

— Patscap (@patscap) March 13, 2023

Smith's absence is expected to increase the Patriots' interest in the tight end position either via free agency, or a very deep Draft class in 2023. 

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