Lee Smith is back where his NFL career began. The Buffalo Bills announced on Monday that they have signed the veteran the tight end to a three-year contract.

Smith spent the first four years of his career with the Bills. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, but released following training camp of his rookie season, allowing Buffalo to claim him off waivers.

The Marshall University product appeared in 58 games with the Bills during his initial tenure, starting 34 of them. His most productive campaign came in 2013, when he started a career-high 10 games and caught five passes for 78 yards, notable for a player almost exclusively used an in-line blocker in short-yardage situations.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
IMAGE; Sean McDermott with speech bubble "We got this!" to Bills QB Josh Allen with tears on his face.

Tim Crean ·

Dan Marino and Jim Kelly

Benedetto Vitale ·

Javon Foster, Dominick Puni, Brenden Rice in the middle, Derek Carr and GM Mickey Loomis around them, and Buffalo Bills wallpaper in the background

Enzo Flojo ·

In March 2015, Smith signed a three-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. He went on to play a similar role in Oakland that he did with Buffalo, mainly being used as an extra blocker rather than as a receiving threat. During his debut season with the silver and black, Smith had a career-best 12 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, starting all 15 games in which he appeared. He re-signed with the Raiders on another three-year contract last offseason, but was released earlier this month following the team's selection of LSU tight end Foster Moreau in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Smith, 31, affords the Bills more pass protection for rising sophomore quarterback Josh Allen, as well as some experience and leadership in the locker room. Even if he doesn't put up gaudy statistics, Buffalo re-signing Smith is an indication of the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder's ongoing value in an increasingly pass-happy league.