Report: Key Steelers coach ‘loves’ Jonnu Smith, who is now being linked to them via trade

One of the Miami Dolphins’ top offensive players in the 2024 season has suddenly been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent trade rumors. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins have had trade discussions with the Steelers regarding tight end Jonnu Smith, who totaled the second-most receiving yards of any Dolphin a season ago.

To make Smith’s Steelers link even more interesting, he and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith go back a ways.

Jonnu Smith played for the Tennessee Titans earlier on in his career when Arthur Smith was part of their staff. To boot, Arthur Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons when Jonnu Smith played for them back in the 2023 campaign. As such, it’s no surprise that Arthur Smith reportedly “loves” the veteran.

After Jonnu Smith had some flashes of brilliance during his stints with the Titans and Falcons (and also had a stop with the New England Patriots in there), he put it all together in his first season with the Dolphins and enjoyed the best campaign of his career to date.

He totaled a career-high 884 receiving yards and tied a career-high in receiving touchdowns with eight across 17 contests played and six starts with the Dolphins.

For the icing on top of the cake of his impressive season, he was named a Pro Bowler for the first time since he was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The rationale for a team like the Steelers being interested in acquiring a tight end of Jonnu Smith’s caliber holds water, but maybe the Dolphins would be unwise to part ways with him unless they were to get a haul in return.

Miami could come to regret moving Jonnu Smith at a time when he’s not far removed from playing some of his best football as an NFL player. Maybe he has another level he can reach as a player, too, as he’s not even 30 years old yet.

All things considered, Dolphins fans should try to keep an eye open for any more rumors connecting Jonnu Smith to the Steelers in the near future.