Jonnu Smth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a pair of splashy moves last offseason that were supposed to shift the balance of their roster in a serious way.
Pittsburgh struck a deal with the Miami Dolphins to acquire both a veteran defensive back and tight end Jonnu Smith, believing the additions would elevate both sides of the ball.
It didn’t quite unfold that way.
The veteran defender, 31, struggled early at his natural corner spot before sliding to safety in an effort to stabilize his season. As for Smith, pairing him with Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington created a crowded tight end room where no one truly broke out.
“With Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward, the Steelers had one of the most talented, versatile and deep tight end rooms in the league — or so they thought,” The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena wrote. “In reality, two of the NFL’s 10 highest-paid tight ends (Smith and Freiermuth) on the same roster was one too many.”
The end result was familiar: another opening-round playoff exit.
Now, under new head coach Mike McCarthy, both high-profile additions are being labeled potential cut candidates. But in Smith’s case, there may also be a potential trade situation available.
Steelers Could Have Trade Partner for Jonnu Smith
One team that could show legitimate interest in Smith is the Washington Commanders, according to Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton.
New offensive coordinator David Blough recently made it clear the passing game will revolve around Terry McLaurin. Moton believes that makes adding another reliable target essential.
“Washington needs a pass-catcher who will take some of the attention away from McLaurin. Last year, the front office gave up a fifth-round pick in exchange for Deebo Samuel. This offseason, the club should look for a big-bodied pass-catcher who can replace soon-to-be free agent Zach Ertz as Daniels’ safety valve in the passing attack,” Moton wrote.
Ertz, 35, appears unlikely to return. Meanwhile, Ben Sinnott has just 16 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns across two seasons.
“Washington can bring in Jonnu Smith, who’s a proven playmaker on passing downs with at least 50 catches and 582 receiving yards in two of the previous three seasons. As part of a three-man tight end group in Pittsburgh, he may be open to a change of scenery,” Moton added.
Smith’s 2025 production — 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns — hardly justifies his role in an already expensive tight end room.
Financials Make Decision Easier for Steelers
If McCarthy and the front office believe there’s tangible value in moving Smith, the financial structure won’t stand in the way.
Whether designated before or after June 1, the dead cap hit sits at $3.8 million in 2026, with roughly $7 million in cap savings, per Spotrac. That’s manageable for a team looking to reshape parts of its roster.
The bigger question is compensation.
Pittsburgh already holds 10 draft picks in 2026. Unless a deal helps them climb into earlier rounds, it’s fair to wonder whether the return would justify the move, unless another player is involved in the transaction.
Still, if another team believes Smith can be more than a rotational piece, the Steelers may finally recoup something from a move that never delivered the impact they envisioned.
Shane Shoemaker Shane Shoemaker is a sports journalist covering college football and the NFL for Heavy.com. His work has also appeared in The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, USA TODAY, and ClutchPoints, along with high school sports coverage for the Marion Tribune. More about Shane Shoemaker
More Heavy on Steelers
Loading more stories