ZM #84

Zaire Mitchell-Paden

Tight End · Florida Atlantic

A well-traveled tight end who finally made his NFL debut in 2025 with Baltimore before landing in New Orleans off waivers.

Zaire Mitchell-Paden spent three years grinding on practice squads in Cleveland before finally breaking through with an NFL debut for the Ravens in 2025. A midseason waiver claim sent him to New Orleans, where he's continuing to carve out a role after years of persistence.

★ 101 career receptions for 1,206 yards and 10 touchdowns at Notre Dame College

★ Made NFL regular-season debut in 2025 after three years on NFL practice squads

Path to the league

Mitchell-Paden played four seasons at Notre Dame College from 2017 to 2020, catching 101 passes for 1,206 yards and 10 touchdowns, before transferring to Florida Atlantic for his final season in 2021, where he added nine catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. He signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Mitchell-Paden spent 2022 through 2024 largely on practice squads with Cleveland and later Baltimore, a stretch that tested his staying power in the league. His patience paid off when he finally made his NFL regular-season debut with the Ravens in Week 1 of 2025.

2025 season recap

Mitchell-Paden debuted for Baltimore against Buffalo in Week 1, playing 15 snaps that included a key block on a Derrick Henry touchdown run. He was waived by the Ravens in late October and claimed by the Saints off waivers, appearing in limited action before being placed on injured reserve in early January 2026 with a knee injury.