Zaire Mitchell-Paden

New Orleans Saints, Tight End
Age: 26y-6m-16d (Aug 20, 1999)
Exp: 2 Years
Country: US
College: Florida Atlantic
Drafted: Undrafted, CLE, 2022
Agent(s): Robert Sheets (KRS III Sports Management)
2026 Cap Hit

$1,005,000

2026 Cash

$1,005,000

Career Earnings

$1,542,807

2026-2027 Reserve/Future (CURRENT)

Zaire Mitchell-Paden signed a 2 year, $2,125,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including an average annual salary of $1,062,500. In 2026, Mitchell-Paden will earn a base salary of $1,005,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,005,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $2,125,000
Average Salary:
$1,062,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2028 / RFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2026 27 $1,005,000 0.33% $1,005,000 $1,005,000 -
2027 28 $1,120,000 0.35% $1,120,000 $2,125,000 -
2028 29
RFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2026 27 $1,005,000 $1,005,000 0.33% -
2027 28 $1,120,000 $1,120,000 0.35% -
2028 29
RFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2026 27 $1,005,000 $1,005,000 $1,005,000 $2,125,000
2027 28 $1,120,000 $1,120,000 $2,125,000 $1,120,000
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $840,000
Average Salary:
$840,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2026 / ERFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Zaire Mitchell-Paden's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2024-2024

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $795,000
Average Salary:
$795,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2025 / ERFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Zaire Mitchell-Paden's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2023-2023

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $750,000
Average Salary:
$750,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2024 / ERFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Zaire Mitchell-Paden's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

2022-2024 Rookie

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $2,570,000
Average Salary:
$856,667
Signing Bonus:
$10,000
GTD at Sign:
$35,000
Total GTD:
$35,000
Free Agent:
2025 / RFA
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the Zaire Mitchell-Paden's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
Seasons

2 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$1,542,807

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2022 23
Reserve
Retained
$207,000
$35,000
$207,000
$242,000
2023 24
Reserve
Retained
$216,000
$41,667
$458,000
$499,667
2024 25
Reserve
Retained
$150,000
$62,500
$649,667
$712,167
2025 26
Injured
Retained
Retained
$493,892
$186,668
$150,080
$1,206,059
$1,392,727
$1,542,807
Total      
$1,542,807
$1,206,059
$1,392,727
$1,542,807
2026 27
Active
$1,005,000
2027 28
Active
$1,120,000
Total
$3,667,807

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $489,667 $10,000 - - - - $499,667
2 $539,168 - - - $10,080 - $549,248
1 $493,892 - - - - - $493,892
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2022
23
$207,000
$25,000
$10,000
$207,000
$35,000
$207,000
$242,000
2023
24
$216,000
$41,667
$216,000
$41,667
$458,000
$499,667
2024
25
$150,000
$62,500
$150,000
$62,500
$649,667
$712,167
2025
26
$493,892
$186,668
$140,000
$10,080
$493,892
$186,668
$150,080
$1,206,059
$1,392,727
$1,542,807
Total
$1,522,727
$10,000
$10,080
$1,542,807
$1,206,059
$1,392,727
$1,542,807
2026
27
$1,005,000
$1,005,000
2027
28
$1,120,000
$1,120,000
Total
$3,647,727
$10,000
$10,080
$3,667,807

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $489,667 $10,000 - - - - $499,667
2 $539,168 - - - $10,080 - $549,248
1 $493,892 - - - - - $493,892

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2025 NO 18 - 18 Knee
  • Jan 23, 2026 Signed a reserve/future contract with New Orleans (NO)
  • Oct 24, 2025 Claimed off waivers by New Orleans (NO)
  • Oct 23, 2025 Waived by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Sep 27, 2025 Signed to the active roster by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Aug 28, 2025 Signed to the practice squad by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Aug 26, 2025 Waived by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Jan 22, 2025 Signed a reserve/future contract with Baltimore (BAL)
  • Oct 18, 2024 Signed to the practice squad by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Sep 16, 2024 Signed to the practice squad by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Aug 27, 2024 Waived by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Jan 16, 2024 Signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Aug 30, 2023 Signed to the practice squad by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Aug 29, 2023 Waived by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Jan 09, 2023 Signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland (CLE)
  • Aug 31, 2022 Signed to the practice squad by Cleveland (CLE)
  • Aug 30, 2022 Waived by Cleveland (CLE), clearing $680,000 of cap
  • May 04, 2022 Signed a contract with Cleveland (CLE)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Rec Targets Rec Receptions Rec Yards Rec Yards/Rec Rec Yards/Gm Rec Touchdowns Fum
2025 NO 8 1 107 9.52 3 2 17 8.5 2.1 0 0
2023 CLE 0 0 0 0.00 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0
Top