Undrafted and On the Ropes: The Brutal Truth About Zaire Mitchell-Paden's Shot at a Saints Roster Spot
Alright, 12s, let's talk about the grind. You know the fight our guys go through, week in and week out, just to get on the field. Well, imagine that fight just to make the roster in the first place. That's the story of Zaire Mitchell-Paden right now, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints, and frankly, it’s a brutal reminder of how tough this league is.
The Saints are staring down their 2026 regular season opener in 84 days, a road game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, September 13. And as the teams gear up, Mitchell-Paden, wearing number 84, is trying to carve out a spot on a tight end depth chart that looks absolutely stacked. This dude was a mid-season grab for the Saints last year, and now he’s in for the fight of his life just to stay in the league.
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The Practice Squad Hustle is Real
Mitchell-Paden, a 26-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, has seen his share of NFL locker rooms, but rarely the game day field. He’s a big body at 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, coming out of Florida Atlantic where he snagged 9 passes for 90 yards and a score. The dude went undrafted in 2022 and landed with the Cleveland Browns. For two straight years, 2022 and 2023, he didn't make the final roster cut. Two years on the practice squad, zero regular season snaps.
Then, after being waived by the Browns after the 2024 preseason, the Baltimore Ravens picked him up. Guess what? Practice squad. Again in 2025, same story. It’s a cycle that would break most players, but this guy just kept grinding. You gotta respect that.
A Glimmer of Hope, Then More Hurdles
Last season, Mitchell-Paden finally got his shot, playing in six games for the Ravens. Mostly used as an extra blocker, he snagged his first NFL reception, one catch for a whole 3 yards, in Week 5 against the Houston Texans. A week later, after Week 6, the Ravens cut him loose. Twenty-four hours later, the Saints brought him onto their practice squad. Talk about a whirlwind!
He saw action for New Orleans in Week 10, catching one pass for 14 yards against the Carolina Panthers. He played in two games for the Saints, getting 33 offensive snaps and 22 on special teams, but only that one target. New Orleans put him on injured reserve for the final game, but they brought him back this offseason. Now, with returning starter Juwan Johnson, plus veteran Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp added to the tight end room, Mitchell-Paden’s combination of size and athleticism faces its toughest test yet to make that 53-man roster.
As the Saints look toward that September 13 opener against the Detroit Lions, you can't help but root for a guy like Zaire Mitchell-Paden. It's a long shot, but his fight reminds us of the relentless competition in this league. For us in the Emerald City, it just makes us hungrier for our own Hawks to kick off their season. We’ll be watching every snap, ready to see our guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp tear it up.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.