Smith acquired from Bucs
TE picked up for 2010 draft choice
FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots acquired tight end Alex Smith from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday for an undisclosed 2010 draft choice, a move that figures to ignite competition with the team's top tight ends from last season, Benjamin Watson and David Thomas.
The 26-year-old Smith, who entered the NFL in 2005 as a third-round draft choice out of Stanford, is due to earn $1.55 million in 2009. The Patriots inherit that contract, which expires after this season.
At 6 feet 4 inches, 258 pounds, Smith can be a factor as a receiver and blocker, although he's not considered overly physical at the line of scrimmage. Former Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden had high hopes for Smith as a receiver, but Smith's production declined in each of his four seasons. After totaling 41 receptions in 2005 - leading rookie tight ends - he had 35, 32, and 21 in the ensuing three seasons.
Once the Buccaneers acquired Kellen Winslow in a trade this offseason, Smith was deemed expendable by the new coaching and front-office regime.
In New England, Smith joins a crowded depth chart that was initially bolstered by the signing of veteran Chris Baker. Baker, who was one of the team's early targets in free agency, signed a five-year, $14.4 million deal that included a $1.5 million signing bonus and a $1.6 million base salary in 2009.
Given that commitment, Baker would seemingly be a lock for a roster spot. So the addition of Smith figures to mostly affect Watson and Thomas, both of whom enter the final year of their contracts. Watson had a career-low 22 receptions last season, while Thomas had nine.
The Patriots also have second-year player Tyson DeVree (contract through 2010) and rookie Brad Listorti (2009) at the position.
The Patriots' base offense has three receivers and one tight end. It is standard for NFL teams to keep three tight ends, although some carry four.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said if Taylor, 34, wants to play in New England, it could happen.
The team appears to be stepping up its recruiting efforts, as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported yesterday that the Patriots have "strong interest" in Taylor, who plans to make a final decision within two weeks.
Taylor has also spoken with the Dolphins, although they haven't been aggressive, and the Buccaneers are another option, the Sun-Sentinel reported. Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator, Jim Bates, has ties to Taylor from his tenure as Miami's defensive coordinator.
"You have to get your edge in the film room," he said yesterday at Gillette Stadium after posing for the traditional photo for the team's top draft choice with Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft. "If you study the film day in and day out, nighttime and morning, you will eventually get an edge on the players you're playing against and that's going to make the game easier.
"My philosophy is to go hard in practice, super hard, until you can't walk. It makes the game so much easier, so it's all hard work. [I will] work on every aspect of my game and hopefully it works out for the best."
Chung said he'll be roommates at this weekend's rookie minicamp with cornerback Darius Butler (41st overall).
"I met him at the Senior Bowl and we're ready to get things going," he said.
The team has rookie minicamp practices this morning (10:15) and afternoon (2:45). The sessions are closed to the public.
Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com. 
