Zaire Mitchell-Paden Bio
Zaire Mitchell-Paden (born August 20, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 257 pounds, he plays a position that demands both size and athleticism. After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, he has built his career through practice squads and reserve contracts across multiple franchises.
A native of Rockville, Maryland, Mitchell-Paden developed into a reliable receiving tight end during his college years at Notre Dame College and Florida Atlantic. He joined the New Orleans Saints after a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens, continuing a journeyman path that has tested his resilience and consistency at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Zaire Mitchell-Paden grew up in Rockville, Maryland, a suburb located just outside Washington, D.C. He attended Richard Montgomery High School, where he lettered in both football and basketball. His multi-sport background in high school helped him develop the coordination, footwork, and competitive habits that would later shape his approach as a tight end.
Coming out of high school, Mitchell-Paden was regarded as a developing athlete with the physical frame to project as a pass-catching tight end. His decision to attend Notre Dame College, a smaller program, gave him the opportunity to play early and refine his fundamentals before testing himself at a higher level of college competition.
Path to American Football
Mitchell-Paden began his college football career at Notre Dame College, where he joined the Falcons program and quickly earned a role on the field. As a true freshman in 2017, he appeared in 10 games, posting two receptions for 16 yards while also contributing on special teams with four kick returns for 26 yards and two tackles. The experience gave him a foundation in college-level play and exposure to the demands of regular-season preparation.
By his sophomore year, Mitchell-Paden had become a featured part of the Notre Dame College offense. During the 2018 season, he started all 14 games and recorded 32 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns, adding a blocked punt and another blocked punt returned for a touchdown. In 2019, he appeared in 13 games and finished with 53 receptions for 573 yards and six touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most productive tight ends at the small-college level. After a shortened 2020 campaign, he announced on April 22, 2021, that he would transfer to Florida Atlantic, seeking a stronger stage to showcase his skills.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Across his four college seasons split between Notre Dame College and Florida Atlantic, Mitchell-Paden steadily grew as a pass-catching tight end. His early years at Notre Dame College were marked by gradual expansion of his role, with his production climbing from a handful of receptions as a freshman to a 53-catch season as a junior.
His senior season came in 2021 at Florida Atlantic, where he played in 12 games and recorded nine catches for 90 yards and one touchdown. Although the stat line was modest, the move to a Football Bowl Subdivision program gave him the visibility and competition level needed to attract NFL attention as a 2022 prospect.
Notre Dame College Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Mitchell-Paden’s most productive college stretch came during the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Notre Dame College. In 2018, he posted 32 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns, starting all 14 games and contributing on special teams with two blocked punts, one of which he returned for a score. The following year, he raised his receiving totals to 53 catches for 573 yards and six touchdowns across 13 games.
That back-to-back production established him as a reliable target and a difficult matchup at the small-college level. His combination of size, hands, and blocking willingness made him an attractive developmental prospect, even as he prepared to test himself at a higher level of competition.
Florida Atlantic Transition (2021)
After announcing his transfer on April 22, 2021, Mitchell-Paden joined the Florida Atlantic Owls for his final college season. Playing in 12 games, he finished the year with nine receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown. The transition to a bigger program required an adjustment period, but the season gave him a year of experience against stronger competition and helped position him for the 2022 NFL process.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022–2023)
Following the 2022 NFL draft in which he went unselected, Mitchell-Paden signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, then re-signed to the team’s practice squad, beginning a familiar pattern of movement between the practice squad and active roster.
On January 9, 2023, he signed a reserve/futures contract with Cleveland. He was waived again on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad two days later. On September 30, he was elevated to the active roster, only to revert to the practice squad two days afterward. He later signed another reserve/futures contract on January 15, 2024, before being waived by the Browns on August 27, 2024.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2024–2025)
Mitchell-Paden joined the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad on September 16, 2024. He signed a reserve/futures contract with Baltimore on January 21, 2025, and was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, before re-signing with the practice squad the next day.
His NFL regular-season debut came in Week 1 of the 2025 season, a Sunday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills, where he played 15 snaps, including a key block on a Derrick Henry touchdown run. He was signed to the active roster on September 27, then waived by the Ravens on October 23, 2025.
New Orleans Saints Era (2025–Present)
On October 24, 2025, Mitchell-Paden was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints. He made two appearances for New Orleans, recording one reception for 14 yards, before being placed on season-ending injured reserve on January 2, 2026, due to a knee injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mitchell-Paden brings the size of a traditional in-line tight end along with the hands and route-running polish developed across multiple college stops. He has shown a willingness to contribute as a blocker, including in short-yardage and goal-line situations, while also serving as a reliable underneath target. His journeyman path has demanded strong practice habits, quick learning, and adaptability to different offensive systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mitchell-Paden’s most memorable early NFL moment came in his debut with the Baltimore Ravens, when he contributed a key block on a Derrick Henry touchdown run in a prime-time Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Reaching an active roster and appearing in regular-season games represented a major milestone for a player who entered the league as an undrafted free agent.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden Career Wins
As a tight end, Mitchell-Paden’s statistical highlights are measured in receptions, yards, and special-teams contributions rather than win totals. Across his verified NFL appearances through Week 10 of the 2025 season, he had recorded 2 receptions for 17 receiving yards, with 1 of those receptions coming as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his NFL production, Mitchell-Paden’s most consistent stretch came during the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Notre Dame College, when he combined for 85 receptions, 1,008 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams with two blocked punts, one returned for a touchdown. His 2021 season at Florida Atlantic added a touchdown reception to his college résumé.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Zaire Mitchell-Paden’s family background is limited. He was raised in Rockville, Maryland, and attended Richard Montgomery High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. Further verified details about his parents or relatives are not available in the reviewed sources.
Personal Life
Mitchell-Paden’s personal life details beyond his career are not widely documented. He is identified as a male American professional football player, born on August 20, 1999, in Rockville, Maryland. Additional confirmed information about his marital status, spouse, or children has not been publicly verified.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Mitchell-Paden’s first year on an active NFL regular-season roster. After spending time on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, he was elevated and made his debut in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, a Sunday Night Football game in which he played 15 snaps and contributed a key block on a Derrick Henry touchdown run. He was signed to the active roster on September 27, 2025, before being waived by Baltimore on October 23.
Claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints on October 24, 2025, Mitchell-Paden appeared in two games for New Orleans and recorded one reception for 14 yards. Through Week 10 of the 2025 season, his career NFL totals stood at 2 receptions for 17 receiving yards. His season came to an early end on January 2, 2026, when he was placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Looking ahead, Mitchell-Paden’s focus will be on recovery from his knee injury and reestablishing himself within the New Orleans Saints organization. His ability to contribute both as a blocker and as a pass-catcher offers a clear path back to the active roster once healthy, building on the momentum of his first career regular-season action.