The Pittsburgh Steelers took a big swing late in the offseason last year when they traded for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. However, that didn’t pan out how they hoped it would. While Ramsey looked good when he moved to safety full time, Smith never caught on. He had an awful season, only catching 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. As a result, the Steelers cut him after the year ended. Despite that, former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth ranked Smith as the fourth-best remaining free agent.
“He’s a really good tight end that’s got versatility, that can play both the Y and the F,” Schlereth said Friday on his Stinkin’ Truth podcast. “That’s your motion tight end… This is a guy that still has got a lot left in the tank.
“Played in Pittsburgh in a two-tight-end system where he was the second-fiddle tight end… He’s a guy that can slide in for you and be a very productive role player at the tight end position… I think he’s still got a lot left in the tank. I think he’s a really damn good football player.”
Schlereth must have been watching a different player last year because Smith looked like his gauge was on empty. He had little impact with the Steelers, often hurting the team more than he helped. That includes getting called for penalties, poor blocking, being a non-factor in the passing game, and often frustrating Aaron Rodgers.
Maybe Smith wasn’t suited for the Steelers’ offense, but he’s familiar with that system. He previously played in Arthur Smith’s scheme with the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. Those were some of Smith’s best years, too.
However, his best season came in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, making his first Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, he didn’t carry that over to the Steelers, but that wasn’t that long ago, so maybe Smith can tap back into that.
That might’ve been an outlier, though. Smith turns 31 this year, so he’s no spring chicken. He’s only gone over 500 receiving yards in one other season. Smith might be best suited as a depth piece now. The arrow is pointing down with him, though. If he gets another chance with a team, it could be his last.
Recommended for you