The addition of Jonnu Smith provides the Steelers arguably the deepest tight finish room within the league, however as an afterthought to a bigger commerce. Jalen Ramsey drew the preliminary headlines, coming over from Miami, earlier than we realized the Steelers shipped Minkah Fitzpatrick. We solely realized later that day that the Dolphins additionally threw in Smith for minor draft compensation.
And that’s how we ought to view the commerce, argues ESPN analyst Seth Walder. He didn’t suppose a lot of it total, however notably pushed again on the notion that Jonnu Smith performed a lot of a job. At its coronary heart, the commerce was the Steelers swapping Fitzpatrick for Ramsey. That’s how most individuals will bear in mind it, until the tight finish has some sort of profession yr.
“Sure, Pittsburgh bought an Arthur Smith favourite in Jonnu Smith, however I’d warning overrating that half,” he wrote for ESPN. “Jonnu Smith is an efficient YAC participant coming off a career-best season wherein he recorded 884 receiving yards, however we shouldn’t ignore the earlier seven seasons of his profession (together with some with Coach Smith) that weren’t on that degree.”
Along with 884 yards on 88 catches, Smith caught eight touchdowns final season. However over his first seven seasons, he averaged 31 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Within the earlier season, when taking part in beneath Steelers OC Arthur Smith in Atlanta, Smith caught 50 passes for 582 yards. Additionally beneath Smith in Tennessee in 2020, he caught 41 passes for 448 yards and eight touchdowns.
His time in New England is basically the gentle spot in his resume, however he didn’t match what the Patriots wished to do with him. Over two seasons there, Jonnu Smith caught simply 55 passes for 539 yards and one landing. He solely started to play a bigger function with the Titans in his third season, when Smith took over as coordinator.
Jonnu Smith will flip 30 in August, however he seemed harmful working after the catch simply final season. If the Steelers preserve him in his wheelhouse, he can produce. However they received’t ask him to see the amount he had in Miami final yr, going through 111 targets.
That’s as a result of he has firm in Pittsburgh, notably in his personal room. Now with the Steelers, Smith joins Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward at tight finish. Freiermuth himself caught seven landing passes simply final season, with room for extra.
What stays unclear is the Steelers’ plan for Jonnu Smith. They signed him to a brand new contract as a part of the commerce, in order that they clearly invested in him. They are going to be utilizing him, however in what roles, and to what extent?
Given the Arthur Smith connection and his love for tight ends, many count on a whole lot of 12 and 13 personnel. That’s an inexpensive assumption, however can the Steelers fulfill each Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith? Even Darnell Washington hoped for a much bigger function within the passing recreation, however that appears unrealistic now.
