Patriots urged to add offensive weapon Mike Vrabel knows well originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New England Patriots have high expectations for the 2026 season.
The team surprisingly made it all the way to the Super Bowl last year, but they ultimately fell short, losing to the Seattle Seahawks. If the team wants to go all the way in 2026, they could look to add even more weapons.
Luckily, there’s a reliable weapon still on the free agent market, and head coach Mike Vrabel knows him well.
Jonnu Smith could be perfect fit in New England
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report recently identified the best fits for the top remaining free agents. For veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, Moton thinks the Patriots make the most sense.
Smith is an experienced pass-catcher who has played for Vrabel before. The veteran earned a Pro Bowl bid as recently as 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, so we know he’s still a capable player.
Regarding this possible signing, Moton offered the following:
Patriots’ backup tight end Julian Hill suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for the 2026 season. New England can add Smith while the coaching staff develops rookie third-rounder Eli Raridon as the future at the position.
Smith would be a more dynamic secondary tight end than Austin Hooper, who caught 21 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns with the team last year. The Patriots can pair him with Hunter Henry to field a more productive pass-catching tight end duo in 2026.
The Patriots have Hunter Henry entrenched as the top tight end, but they could use a better backup. Austin Hooper left for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, and Julian Hill suffered a season-ending injury already this summer.
If the Patriots don’t add Smith, they’ll have to rely on rookie third-rounder Eli Raridon to be the TE2.
As mentioned above, it makes sense for Smith to head to New England given his familiarity with Vrabel. Smith could also join fellow former Titans Kevin Byard, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane, Mike Brown, and A.J. Brown in New England.
Can Patriots win Super Bowl this year?
It will be interesting to see if the Patriots can go all the way in 2026. They lost star receiver Stefon Diggs, but they replaced him with A.J. Brown. The offensive line added Alijah Vera-Tucker and Kevin Byard and Dre’Mont Jones were the top defensive additions.
If Drake Maye can be elite again, then it wouldn’t be wise to count the Patriots out. With a strong offensive line, solid ground game, and tough defense, the Patriots look primed to contend once again in 2026.
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