Patriots Acquire Alex Smith, Continue to Stockpile Tight Ends

Tampa Bay has traded tight end Alex Smith to New England for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2010 draft. The Bucs had reportedly been looking to unload Smith ever since acquiring Kellen Winslow from the Browns at the end of February.

The Patriots weren't exactly bare at the tight end position before this move either. The Pats return Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, their two starters from last year, and signed former Jet Chris Baker to a free-agent deal.

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Smith made 21 catches for 250 yards and three touchdowns with Tampa Bay last season, his least-productive stat line in four years as a pro.

None of the Patriots' four tight ends (five if you count Tyson DeVree, who saw action toward the end of 2008) are particularly adept at receiving, but the quartet brings a heavy blocking element to New England's repertoire. The Patriots should be able to stack up two or even three tight ends in short-yardage situations, while lining up two tight-end sets from time to time in front of Tom Brady.

New England's offense piled up 142.4 yards per game on the ground last season, despite Brady's absence, so the QB's return combined with a near-infinite supply of available tight ends should help maintain that number.