NFL Analyst Foresees Huge Year For New Steelers Tight End

In late June, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins shocked the NFL with a trade sending Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith to the AFC North, with Minkah Fitzpatrick going to the AFC East.

 As we are now just days away from training camp beginning across the league, it’s becoming a more tangible reality for each squad, and the way players will be utilized will be under scrutiny. 

The Steelers added DK Metcalf this offseason, but they traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for draft capital, leaving the team without a proven wide receiver two. The team desperately needed another playmaker, and Smith is unquestionably their guy, as he used to play under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. 

According to NFL analyst Michael DeCourcy, Smith (Jonnu) is in line for a major role this season in Pittsburgh, mentioning that he expects the former Dolphin to be the second receiving option for Aaron Rodgers. 

“I would expect it would be Jonnu Smith. The guy caught 88 passes last year; that’s a ton,” DeCourcy said. “Tight end, wide receiver, anybody: that’s a lot of passes. When people say they don’t have a No. 2 receiver, my immediate reaction is, ‘Yeah, they do. He just happens to play tight end.”

Last season with Miami, he caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, which is easily his best statistical season, eclipsing his previous best of 582 yards. Smith’s ability to get yards after the catch, often breaking the first tackle, separates him from many tight ends.

He’s great on screen plays and routes breaking over the middle of the field. While he’s a unique talent, the Steelers also have another solid receiving threat at the position in Pat Freiermuth; however, DeCourcy says they’ll have different roles. 

“I think that Freiermuth will have to remain more of a conventional tight end. They’ll still split him out a little bit in certain situations, but Jonnu [Smith], I think, will get a lot of opportunities where he’s basically split out. Obviously, not all the way out to the sideline, but out in the flank where he can get out and get some space,” he said. 

If Smith doesn’t become a primary target within the new look Steelers offense, who will it be? Freiermuth has shown flashes, but can Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson emerge? It’s going to be fascinating to see how it all plays out.