FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots' unprecedented free-agent splurge at tight end has had a trickle-down effect, with the club trading fourth-year tight end Ryan Izzo to the Houston Texans on Thursday.
The Patriots received a 2022 seventh-round pick in exchange, according to the official NFL transaction notice.
Izzo, a 2018 seventh-round pick from Florida State, was thrust into a tough spot last year as the Patriots' No. 1 tight end, a result of the team not having any other experienced options. He played 62% of the snaps and finished with 13 catches for 199 yards.
The Patriots' big-money free-agent agreements with tight ends Jonnu Smith (four years, $50 million) and Hunter Henry (three years, $37.5 million) made Izzo's spot on the 2021 roster an uncertainty.
The trade is the second this offseason between the Patriots and Texans, with New England coach Bill Belichick having a notable link with first-year Houston general manager Nick Caserio, his longtime director of player personnel.
The other trade involved the Patriots sending offensive tackle Marcus Cannon and fifth- and sixth-round picks to the Texans in exchange for fourth- and sixth-round picks.
Meanwhile, the Texans announced on Thursday that they cut tight end Darren Fells. The move saved Houston $2.3 million and the team will take on just $500,000 of dead money. Last season, Fells caught 21 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns for Houston.
The Texans also released punter Bryan Anger, who was due a base salary of $2.5 million in 2021 that was not guaranteed. Anger signed a three-year contract in December 2019.
ESPN's Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.