Pats add Jonnu Smith
BOSTON — The Patriots have agreed to sign free agent tight end Jonnu Smith in their biggest move to date to fill the void created by the departure of Rob Gronkowski.
Smith, who was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 draft, agreed Monday to a four-year, $50 million deal, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. New deals can’t be finalized until the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Smith has been a consistent presence for Tennessee, appearing in 60 games with 53 starts over the past four years. His improvement has been steady and he is coming off his best season with the Titans, catching 41 passes for 448 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Patriots have struggled to get production at tight end since Gronkowski initially announced his retirement in 2019.
Gronkowski was a favorite target of Tom Brady and a four-time All-Pro during his nine seasons in New England. But in the past two seasons a group that has included Ben Watson, Devin Asiasi, Ryan Izzo, Matt Lacosse and Dalton Keene combined for just three touchdown catches for the Patriots.
Watson, who came out retirement at age 39 when he signed as a free agent in 2019, produced 17 catches for 173 yards that season. But he retired again that offseason.
The lack of a dependable option at tight end certainly restricted quarterback Cam Newton last season, especially after receiver Julian Edelman went on injured reserve early in the schedule.
Adding Smith to the mix is the first in what is expected to be several moves by coach Bill Belichick this offseason to upgrade options in passing game for Newton, who is currently the front-runner to start again after agreeing to a one-year deal last week.
SOURCE: PATS TRADE CANNON TO TEXANS
BOSTON — The Patriots are trading tackle Marcus Cannon, a mainstay on the right side of their offensive line, to the Houston Texans, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The Patriots will send Cannon to Houston in exchange for the swap of fourth, fifth and sixth-round picks in next month’s NFL draft. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be finalized until the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
It will be a homecoming for Cannon, who was born in Odessa, Texas and played at Texas Christian.
Cannon is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma during his final season at TCU in 2011. It factored into him opting out last season because of COVID-19 concerns. He signed a five-year, $32 million contract extension in 2016 and is scheduled to make a base salary of $4.7 million this season.
The trade comes just a week after the Patriots agreed to sign free agent tackle Trent Brown to a one-year, $11 million deal.
Brown is coming back to New England where he helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl in his only season there in 2018. He can play left and right tackle and provides another option on the left side should Isaiah Wynn not be able to stay healthy. Brown could step in and start on the right side if they want him to fill Cannon’s role.