Latest news with #JonnuSmith
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Steelers' Pro Bowler trade buzz shot down by insider Ian Rapoport
Steelers' Pro Bowler trade buzz shot down by insider Ian Rapoport Steelers trade buzz burns bright — but flames out just as fast. Insider Adam Schefter broke the news that the Dolphins and Steelers engaged in trade talks regarding Miami's Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith — and while it was surprising, insider Ian Rapoport believes it's unlikely anything more will come of it. In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Rapoport was asked how real the trade news really was — and here's what he had to say: 'I think Jonnu Smith wants to make money,' Rapoport said. 'He is actually a part of what the Dolphins want to do. It feels to me that he wants more money and would like to stay [with the Dolphins]. I know he wants a lot — we'll see what [the Dolphins] end up doing.' Hopefully nothing more comes out of the trade speculation, as Steelers TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington are underrated pieces of Pittsburgh's offense — and paying the soon-to-be 30-year-old Smith a massive extension makes zero sense for the Steel City brand of football. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Mark Kaboly denies trade rumors: 'Steelers aren't interested in Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith'
Mark Kaboly denies trade rumors: 'Steelers aren't interested in Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith' Pittsburgh trade buzz may be starting to cool off, as longtime sportswriter and Steelers correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show threw cold water on the Jonnu Smith speculation. Insider Adam Schefter broke the news on Thursday that the Steelers and Dolphins had been in trade talks regarding the Pro Bowl tight end, as Smith is seeking a restructured deal. Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan took to social media to aggregate Kaboly's comments on the trade rumors: "The Steelers aren't interested at all." Kaboly then took it a step further by explaining why he believes the Steelers-Dolphins trade rumors are false: "I may have to file that Smith interest under [fake news reports], even though the connections with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith — who coached Smith at Tennessee and Atlanta and is a big fan of his play — bring some believability to it all. Forget that the Steelers already have a legitimate TE1 in Freiermuth, but the way Darnell Washington has asserted himself in the passing game through three offseason practices can't be dismissed." It seemed odd for the Steelers to target another tight end while already having two solid options at the position — especially with a glaring need for a bona fide WR2. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL insider Ian Rapoport gives latest on Jonnu Smith trade rumors: 'He wants a lot'
NFL insider Ian Rapoport gives latest on Jonnu Smith trade rumors: 'He wants a lot' Jonnu Smith is angling for a new contract, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport isn't convinced that means he'll be traded by the Miami Dolphins anytime soon. "He is actually a part of what the Dolphins want to do," Rapoport said of Smith in a Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "It feels to me like he wants more money, but would like to stay [in Miami]. I know he wants a lot. We'll see what they end up doing. "But going back to the [Jalen] Ramsey thing. If they are able to trade Jalen Ramsey, that's $21 million -- some of the $21 million will come off the books, depending on how much they pay. Trading Ramsey might help Jonnu Smith get the contract he wants, as well." Smith, 29, earned Pro Bowl honors in 2024 after breaking Dolphins franchise records for receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and receiving touchdowns (8) by a tight end. However, he ranks 32nd among tight ends sorted by average salary per year. While nine tight ends are earning at least $12 million per year, Smith is set to play on the second season of a two-year, $8.4 million contract. It's no surprise that Smith wants a sizable pay bump. How high he sets his asking price could be what determines whether or not he's dealt elsewhere.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Steelers had trade talks with Dolphins to acquire Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith
Steel City trade buzz has begun to heat up! On Thursday, insider Adam Schefter reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers had trade talks with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith. Schefter explained that these trade talks arose from Smith's desire for a reworked contract: Advertisement "Those talks came after Smith expressed an interest in reworking his deal that is scheduled to pay him $4.8 million this season. With Smith seeking a new contract, Miami has sought a trade partner." The longtime NFL insider also hinted that Smith prefers to stay with the Dolphins on a reworked deal — but a trade to Pittsburgh could be in the cards, as the tight end has a strong connection to Steelers OC Arthur Smith. The 29-year-old Pro Bowler spent time with Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator during their days in Tennessee, when Arthur was the Titans' tight ends coach and later offensive coordinator. They reunited again in Atlanta for the 2023 season — before Arthur was fired on January 8, 2024. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers had trade talks to acquire Dolphins Pro Bowl TE Jonnu Smith
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
The cases for and against the Dolphins trading TE Jonnu Smith
The cases for and against the Dolphins trading TE Jonnu Smith The Miami Dolphins' 2025 outlook took a surprising turn Thursday when ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the team has been in talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers about a potential trade involving tight end Jonnu Smith. That was a jarring report as it comes just a few months after Smith was the only Dolphins player to earn Pro Bowl honors for the 2024 season. According to Schefter, the trade discussions were prompted by Smith's desire to receive a new contract from the Dolphins heading into the 2025 season. So how should Miami proceed? We at Dolphins Wire have differing opinions: The case for keeping Jonnu Smith (via Jason Sarney) The wording in Schefter's report was rather important. The last sentence stated, "Smith's preference, per sources, is to stay in Miami under a reworked deal." That's crucial because it underlines that Smith has apparently never requested a trade. And that means Miami is in danger of perpetuating its recent problem of parting with quality players who want to stay in town just so the team can save some money. Last year, Smith signed a two-year deal worth $8.4 million and in his first season in Miami, broke the franchise's records for receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (8) by a tight end. His 52 receiving yards per game are the most any Miami tight end has ever averaged with the team by a long shot. Second down the list is Keith Jackson, who averaged 42.7 yards per game during his time in Miami more than 30 years ago. Aside from gaudy statistics never seen in South Florida from a tight end, Smith provided leadership on a team that now has a void in that area. Players like Smith are ones you would like to keep home to retire with the team. While trading Smith to save about $4 million would help the team's cap situation, the question is what a reworked deal could actually mean for both sides. Smith may simply want the security of another year added to a contract set to expire after the 2025 season. Another year added to the deal could provide security for a player entering his ninth NFL season. The Dolphins have let numerous talented players find greener pastures elsewhere, but for a franchise making big changes on its roster, it's inefficient to not keep more building blocks than you let leave. Additionally, a situation like Smith's could sound alarms for future free agents. Not rewarding a key player for a fantastic season is not prudent for the growth of a team hovering in mediocrity for the last five seasons. Instead, Miami has rewarded a pair players, Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill, with reworked contracts in the last year and received drama in return. Ramsey will no longer be with the Dolphins after requesting a trade, and Hill openly quit on his team on the last day of the 2024 NFL season, pulling himself out against the New York Jets. There's a culture issue in Miami and that's partly because the team has struggled to identify which players to extend and which ones to let walk out the door. Should Smith be dealt, it would leave the Dolphins with a very young and unproven tight end group. That room without Smith would be left with Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci, and Jalin Conyers. None have proven even close to a viable pass-catching threat on the level of Smith. Smith brought production to the team that hadn't seen anything from the tight end position in years. Prior to Smith's first score with Miami, the last Dolphins tight end touchdown was from Mike Gesicki in the 2022 season. Maybe there's a world where Miami nets a younger, cheaper player to absorb the loss. Pittsburgh is already loaded at tight end, so perhaps the Steelers would part with their massive 6'7 tight end Darnell Washington, a formidable blocker who joined the team as a 2023 third-round pick. But if Smith just wants to finish his career in Miami, general manager Chris Grier would be wise to break the current habit of letting hard-working leaders go elsewhere as it would continue to set a negative precedent for future relationships. Smith wants to stay and surely is deserving of both an additional year and a bump in pay. That's the sort of practice that shows players that hard work will actually be rewarded. The case for trading Jonnu Smith (via Adam Stites) In an ideal world for an NFL team, they'd stack their roster with players over-performing their contract. That's what happened for Miami in 2024 when Smith put together record-breaking stats on a deal that counted only $2.1 million against the Dolphins' salary cap. Alas, it never works out like that for long. It's impossible to fault players for wanting to maximize their earnings during the relatively short career that is the life of an NFL player. After earning a Pro Bowl nod, it makes sense that Smith wants to be paid more than a few million dollars in 2025. He's currently the 32nd highest paid tight end in the NFL (by average salary per season) and way behind his statistical peers. There are nine tight ends playing on deals averaging at least $12 million per year and two getting $19 million. But dishing out the kind of contract that a Pro Bowl-level tight end usually signs simply doesn't make sense for Miami. The Dolphins have a serious deficiency in their secondary that has to be addressed before the 2025 season starts and they aren't exactly loaded with cap space to make those fixes. Dealing away Jalen Ramsey will clear a good chunk of space, but not so much that Miami will suddenly have the luxury to stop being thrifty. The question the Dolphins have to ask themselves is whether Smith's 2024 output is worth making significant sacrifices elsewhere on the roster. One of the worst decisions an NFL team can make is paying a player for what they've done in the past rather than what they expect that player to do in the future. Smith, who turns 30 in August, had never recorded more than 50 receptions or reached 600 yards in a season prior to 2024. So what changed when Smith arrived in Miami? A dysfunctional offense without an effective running game turned to its 6'3 tight end to pick up short yardage. Smith was targeted 28 times behind the line of scrimmage in 2024 (no other tight end in the NFL had 20) and 56 times within 10 yards. Of the 88 receptions he caught last season, only one was on a pass that traveled at least 20 yards downfield and that was a coverage bust. During a high-flying 2023 season, the Dolphins ran the ball effectively and, in turn, were able to push the ball downfield. The goal for the team is to recreate that success. Guard James Daniels was Miami's most expensive addition in free agency and the Dolphins doubled up at the position by picking guard Jonah Savaiinaea in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL draft. With more beef up front and another deep threat at wide receiver in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, the Dolphins are hopeful they can get back to their prolific ways after finishing No. 22 in points scored last year. Would it be helpful to also have a dynamic tight end with yards-after-catch ability like Smith at Tagovailoa's disposal? Of course. But only because Smith was set to count $4.6 million against the Dolphins' salary cap. Paying him more in 2025 and beyond would be committing money to reward production that was largely a result of the team's struggles. Smith will probably never be more valuable than he is right this second. The Dolphins would benefit from cashing in that chip now and Smith would benefit from getting a new contract before he turns 30. As painful as it is to wave goodbye to a Pro Bowler, a trade is probably the best outcome for all parties.
