With all the talk continuing about the quarterback situation the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with – will Aaron Rodgers come, or not – recent news that Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith may be involved in a trade offer to the Steelers via the Miami Dolphins has popped up. The question now is whether the Steelers will land yet another tight end or ride with the roster they have into training camp.
As Steel City Underground’s Brian E. Roach stated in a podcast episode this week regarding the Steelers,
“If they can add quality, they will. I don’t expect a lot to happen between now and training camp.”
Co-host Joe Kuzma seemed to come to a consensus with Roach that the likelihood that the Steelers make any big splash moves this remaining offseason is low.
Smith would be a value player with a reasonable price tag, but will the deal get done?
How Smith might fit in Pittsburgh
Smith, who did not show up for the Dolphins’ voluntary OTA practices this week, has expressed an interest in reworking a two-year, $4.8 million deal signed last offseason per Adam Schefter of ESPN and other sources. Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has worked with Smith previously as a part of the Tennessee Titans organization and again while he was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Steelers aren’t thin at the tight end position, however, with Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward (also listed at fullback), and former Los Angeles Charger Donald Parham, Jr whom they signed this offseason. J.J. Galbreath is also with the team this spring as well
The team carried four tight ends in 2024, so that has many fans asking why the team would place emphasis there instead of fully focusing on bringing in a quarterback to start over Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson.
After trading George Pickens, the Steelers are a bit more uncertain at this point at wide receiver. Yes, veteran D.K. Metcalf is expected to be their primary outside receiver (WR1), but the team may be trying to decide what order they’d place Calvin Austin II, Robert Woods, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek and the handful of potential prospects like Brandon Johnson, Montana Lemonious-Craig, Lance McCutcheon, Roc Taylor, and Ke’Shawn Williams in.
Could Arthur Smith be looking at more multi-tight end sets instead of focusing on big throws to the outside in 2025?
Smith’s offensive philosophy has previously emphasized a run-heavy approach, often relying on outside zone concepts utilizing tight ends as key blockers in these schemes to also create passing opportunities with play-action and mismatches over the middle of the field.
Steelers fans saw some of that last season, but they will have Jaylen Warren and potentially rookie Kaleb Johnson as their primary backs. That will take time to develop, even with Trey Sermon, Kenneth Gainwell, Evan Hull, Max Hurleman, and Jonathan Ward vying to stick a roster spot.
Smith, with his previous experience in Smith’s schemes, could give the Steelers a better edge in fully implementing that offense this season over last season.
Will the deal happen, or fizzle out?
Per Ray Fitipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, there is no deal being discussed. On 97.3 The Fan’s The PM Show, Fitipaldo said, “I know guys, it’s not coming from the team.”
“I think his agent is probably trying to use this as leverage,” Fitipaldo continued. “I don’t think there’s much to it right now.”
Reports have stated that Smith wants a bigger chunk of change than what Miami is willing to give, so there may be some wrangling involved. But, there are also sources, insisting Pittsburgh is looking for more offensive weapons.
Smith definitely could be a nice addition to a Steelers offense that sputtered in 2024. The tight end is coming off of a season where he led Miami’s receiving stats, grabbed 884 yards on 88 receptions, and added 8 touchdowns. He might be an upgrade over Heyward, Parham, and Galbreath, too, after having a career year.
The answer to the question, then, is probably closer to what Roach and Kuzma discussed on the podcast: if the Steelers see value in adding Smith, they will. If not, the deal won’t get done.
In all likelihood, the Steelers will not make any large, splashy additions to their roster over the offseason. There will continue to be movement, as there is always a shuffling of personnel at this time of year, but Pittsburgh appears settled to ride into camp with what they are putting on the practice field now over giving the league surprise roster announcements.
