Both of these players have been connected to Mike Vrabel in the past.
A position that the New England Patriots must target this offseason is tight end. Since 2021, Hunter Henry has taken on the role of being the main name to hold that mantle, but the clock is ticking on Henry.
Tight end number two on the Patriots, Austin Hooper, departed this week for the Atlanta Falcons, thus leaving all the reins to Henry once again as a receiving TE. Henry is under contract for just one more year in New England.
So, a move must be made to give the tight end some depth on the roster going forward. The Patriots did agree to terms of a three-year deal with former Miami Dolphins tight end Julian Hill. The news broke right after Hooper's departure was announced.
Like Hooper, Hill is much more of a blocking tight end. Thus, leaving the door open for the draft or even any other offseason signings that may come up, and it seems like there are a few still floating around for the Patriots to consider.
In a tweet posted today, NFL reporter Justin Ramos for The Lead stated that the Patriots have shown interest in tight ends David Njoku and former Patriots TE Jonnu Smith.
Although there is a clear path for the Patriots to draft a tight end this season, with the position full of potential candidates, experienced players like Njoku and Smith could also work on short-term deals.
Njoku worked as a blocking tight end in 2025 for a developing Browns offense, which, oddly enough, added to his value because, a couple of years earlier, in 2023, he had a career-defining season, recording 81 receptions on 123 targets for 882 yards and six touchdowns for the Browns.
Vrabel has always had his eyes on any player to come out of the state of Ohio; Njoku may only add to that argument. The pair were very much in each other's orbit at one point, with Vrabel a consultant to the Browns.
As for Jonnu Smith, who signed a big four-year deal with the Patriots in 2021 after leaving behind Mike Vrabel and the Titans, Smith would eventually bounce around the league over the last four years.
Smith underperformed in his two years in New England. A $50 million, four-year deal only saw him play 30 games as a Patriot; he recorded only 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown, leading to his trade to Atlanta in 2023.
As a Miami Dolphin, Smith would record the best year in franchise history for a tight end with 88 receptions and 884 yards, while scoring eight touchdowns.
However, in Pittsburgh this past season, Smith had only 38 catches for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns in 17 games for the Steelers. The team would free up $7 million in cap space, putting him on the market.
Either Smith or Njoku should be considered here. Josh McDaniels has coached an offense with dual tight ends before and found success. Even if it's just for one year, either of these guys could be a solid bridge to the future at this position.
Patriots Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Patriots. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.