For the second time in a week, the New England Patriots have bolstered the tight end position, this time reaching an agreement with often-injured unrestricted free agent Cam Cleeland, who has spent the first four seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints.

The Patriots last week signed free agent Christian Fauria, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, to a three-year, $3.8 million contract. Cleeland, 26, will sign a one-year contract for $525,000, and the deal includes incentives that could boost his compensation to $1 million.

One of the league's most promising tight ends just three years ago, Cleeland has suffered a series of Achilles injuries that limited him to only 20 games since a standout 1998 rookie campaign. He initially ruptured his Achilles tendon in the opening preseason game in 2000, re-injured it during his rehabilitation, and missed the entire season.

He has battled recurring Achilles strains and a variety of other injuries ever since.

When he is healthy, which has not been often, Cleeland is an intriguing player. He has superior size (6-4, 272 pounds), yet very good deep speed, and possesses excellent hands. Not noted as a strong in-line blocker, he does have the ability to shield off defender, but it is his receiving skills that could make him special.

In his rookie season, Cleeland started all 16 games for the Saints and had 54 catches for 684 yards and six touchdowns. He was voted to the league's all-rookie team and seemed destined to develop into a Pro Bowl caliber performer before the injuries began to mount.

The former University of Washington star was selected by New Orleans in the second round of the 1998 draft. He has appeared in 36 games and started 31 of them, and has 93 receptions for 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns.

New England, which has gotten scant production from its tight ends the past three seasons, at least now has two potentially solid receivers in Fauria and Cleeland.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.