Tampa Bay will receive undisclosed pick in 2010.
By ROY CUMMINGS
rcummings@tampatrib.com
TAMPA - The Bucs began recouping some of the draft picks they gave up to get tight end Kellen Winslow and quarterback Josh Freeman by trading tight end Alex Smith to the New England Patriots on Thursday.
Smith, who came to the Bucs as a third-round pick out of Stanford in 2005, brought back an undisclosed pick in next year's draft.
During his four seasons with the Bucs , Smith appeared in 58 games (43 starts) and caught 129 passes for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He caught 21 balls for 250 yards and three touchdowns last year but became expendable when the Bucs re-signed free agent tight end Jerramy Stevens, who had emerged as the team's top pass catcher at the position.
With Winslow, Stevens and blocking tight end John Gilmore on the roster, Smith had been the subject of trade rumors.
The Bucs are looking to recoup the second- and fifth-round picks they gave up for Winslow and the sixth-round pick they traded in an effort to move up two spots to get Freeman.
Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.
Photo: Alex Smith
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