The Pittsburgh Steelers turned the NFL world upside down on Monday when the organization agreed to a huge blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins. The deal saw Pittsburgh give away star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, while bringing in All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith. A late-round pick swap in the 2027 NFL Draft favoring the Dolphins also took place. There were a lot of moving parts to this move, but the most talked about one has been the acquisition of Ramsey for the Steelers. However, Smith also has a chance to make a pretty significant impact on the Pittsburgh offense.
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Steelers' newly acquired TE Jonnu Smith running for a big play while fellow players and coaches celebrate.
Pittsburgh acquiring Smith was a bit confusing for some fans. Tight end wasn't necessarily seen as an area the organization needed to work on improving, but it did it anyway. Pat Freiermuth is still considered the starter, but the dynamic between Smith and Darnell Washington is going to be interesting. Some have even reported that Smith will be the team's third tight end during the 2025 season, which is absolutely ludicrous considering he had the best year of his career in 2024.
Shortly after the trade, Smith was interviewed by his former teammate, Terron Armstead. The two spoke about the deal and their time together in Miami, and Smith sure sounds excited to wear the black and gold.
"All in all bro, I'm great, I'm blessed," Smith said. "I'm a Steeler, know what I'm saying? I'm playing for one of the most historic sports franchises in the history of sports. Under a great head coach with Mike [Tomlin], you know, back with my guy Arthur Smith. Back with my guy Arthur Smith who I've had a lot of success with throughout my career. So I'm extremely blessed bro. I couldn't be more excited."
Playing for a franchise like the Steelers is often seen as a privilege by most players in the NFL, and a ton of players also want the opportunity to play for Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Fans in Pittsburgh might get frustrated with him from time to time, but he is one of the most well-respected coaches in all of sports and most players hold him in that regard.
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Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, then with the Tennessee Titans, walks off the practice field with tight end Jonnu Smith.
Another key factor mentioned by Smith was the fact that he gets to reunite with his former Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith. The two have been together multiple times throughout their careers, with the most recent being with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. The two were also together for four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, and that familiarity could be beneficial for Pittsburgh.
Up until 2024, Jonnu's best season came with Tennessee back in 2020. This was his final season with the Titans, and Arthur got his chance to be a head coach after the season ended. The tight end recorded 41 catches for 448 yards and eight touchdowns, which is certainly some production that Pittsburgh would take.
Steelers Have Plans For Jonnu Smith In Pittsburgh
Jonnu is entering a fairly crowded tight end room, but Arthur is a coordinator that loves tight ends, and knows how to use them. The position group will be a big key for the offense moving forward, and that became obvious by the way Pittsburgh immediately signed Jonnu to a one-year extension after acquiring him.
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Steelers' Pat Freiermuth (88), Tight Ends Coach Alfredo Roberts, and Darnell Washington (80).
The tight end was entering the final year of his contract, but the Steelers inked him to a deal worth roughly $12 million over one season. This means he is now under contract through the 2026 season, which kind of shows that Pittsburgh has the plans to use the Pro Bowler properly.
Jonnu is an athletic tight end, and there will be scenarios where he could be lined up in the slot, or even out wide. He is versatile, which is something the organization typically looks for.
What do you think about Jonnu's remarks on the deal? Let us know in the comments below!
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