FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jonnu Smith wasn’t looking for a fresh start as much as a place to burnish his reputation as one of the league’s top tight ends when he left the Tennessee Titans and signed with the New England Patriots prior to last season.
He was coming off a career year in Tennessee and was one of the most sought-after names available on the open market. The Patriots were in search of an upgrade at the position and ended up investing $87.5 million dollars to lure both Smith and former Chargers standout Hunter Henry to New England.