As the Pittsburgh Steelers gear up for what could be a pivotal offseason, one of the early roster decisions looming involves tight end Jonnu Smith - a player who arrived in Pittsburgh with solid expectations but never quite found his footing in black and gold.
Smith, who was acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins - a deal that also brought in cornerback Jalen Ramsey - was signed to a one-year, $12.01 million contract extension shortly after the move. At the time, it looked like a savvy addition: a versatile tight end coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2024, with the athletic profile to be a mismatch weapon in the passing game.
But on the field in 2025, the production just didn’t match the paycheck. Smith managed only 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
For context, that’s barely six yards per catch - not exactly the kind of impact the Steelers were hoping for from a player with his résumé. Whether it was a lack of chemistry with the quarterback, schematic fit, or simply a down year, Smith never became a reliable part of Pittsburgh’s offensive identity.
Now, as the team evaluates its roster ahead of free agency, Smith’s future is very much in question.
Longtime Steelers insider Gerry Dulac recently suggested that one of the team’s tight ends brought in this season is likely on the chopping block - and given that Smith is the only notable addition at the position from 2025, it doesn’t take much reading between the lines to see where this could be headed.
The reality is Pittsburgh’s tight end room is getting crowded. Pat Freiermuth remains a key piece of the offense when healthy, and Darnell Washington offers a unique blend of size and blocking ability that’s tough to replicate. With both players under contract and offering more upside (and in Washington’s case, on a rookie deal), Smith finds himself in a tough spot.
Financially, the math isn’t in his favor either. Releasing Smith would cost the Steelers just $3.8 million in dead money - a manageable figure - while freeing up $7 million in cap space. That’s the kind of flexibility that matters when you’re trying to retool a roster and stay competitive in a tight AFC North race.
Could new head coach Mike McCarthy find a way to unlock Smith’s potential in a revamped offense? Possibly.
McCarthy has a track record of getting production out of tight ends, and maybe he sees something others don’t. But even if that’s the case, the cap implications and depth chart realities might outweigh any hypothetical upside.
A trade is another option, but it’s hard to imagine there’s a strong market for a 30-year-old tight end coming off a down year with a hefty price tag. More likely, the Steelers will explore their options and eventually move on - whether by trade or outright release.
It’s a tough break for Smith, who flashed legitimate talent earlier in his career and looked like a rising weapon not long ago. But in the NFL, fit and timing are everything. And right now, it looks like his time in Pittsburgh could be coming to a close.