The Falcons acquired veteran tight end Lee Smith in a trade for a seventh-round draft pick in 2022,the team announced Wednesday at the start of the NFL’s new business year.
Lee, 33, played at Tennessee and Marshall. He was drafted in the fifth round (159th overall) by New England in 2011.
Lee, 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, is a blocking tight end. He has 64 catches for 458 yards and 10 touchdowns over his career. He played in 10 games and made two starts last season for the Bills. He caught six passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns.
He has played with Buffalo (2011-14, 2019-20) and with Oakland (2015-18).
The Falcons currently have two tight ends on the roster in Hayden Hurst and Jaeden Graham. Luke Stocker, who was the third tight end last season, became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator last season, had four tight ends with at least 200 offensive snaps in their run-heavy attack that featured running back Derrick Henry.
Jonnu Smith played 719 snaps (69.9%), Geoff Swaim played 339 (33%), Anthony Firkser played 328 (31.9%) and MyCole Pruitt played 251 (24.4%) were Smith’s tight ends in 2020.
Falcons’ 2021 draft position: Here are the picks in D. Led’s Mock Draft 2.0: Top five picks
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (QB, Clemson)
2. New York Jets: Justin Fields, (QB, Ohio State)
3. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Marr Chase (WR, LSU)
4. Falcons: Kyle Pitts (TE, Florida)
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Penei Sewell, (OT, Oregon)
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