The Pittsburgh Steelers renewed conversations Thursday with Miami Dolphins tight finish Jonnu Smith, who’s in search of a brand new contract, a supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The event brings new life to a potential commerce between the Steelers and Dolphins after sources had advised Schefter earlier Tuesday {that a} commerce was not anticipated to be accomplished.
Smith, 29, expressed curiosity to the Dolphins in transforming the two-year deal he signed final offseason, which might pay him $4.8 million in 2025, sources advised Schefter.
Drew Rosenhaus, Smith’s agent, stated Sunday night time that his consumer’s “first alternative” was to stay with the Dolphins.
“This is what I’ll say on behalf of my consumer: Jonnu would undoubtedly like to remain in Miami. That is his first alternative,” Rosenhaus stated in his weekly look on WSVN-TV, based on the Miami Herald. “That is the place he lives within the offseason. He had a record-breaking season final 12 months. It was the perfect season ever for a Miami Dolphin tight finish. … He broke the staff report for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns for a decent finish and was the staff’s single Professional Bowl participant. He is an extremely beneficial a part of this staff. … He went to school at FIU. His dream staff is the Dolphins.
“Hopefully, every part works out the place he can keep in Miami.”
Smith set a franchise report for receptions (88) and receiving yards (884) by a decent finish final season en path to his first profession Professional Bowl choice. He led all Dolphins gamers in receptions in his first 12 months with the staff and completed behind solely Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and George Kittle leaguewide in receiving yards by a decent finish.
The Steelers’ curiosity in Smith was rooted in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s longstanding relationship with the tight finish. Arthur Smith was Jonnu Smith’s tight ends coach and offensive coordinator in Tennessee, and Arthur Smith later traded for his former participant throughout his stint because the Falcons’ head coach.
The Steelers are in seek for receiving assist after buying and selling George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
The Steelers, although, haven’t got a obvious want at tight finish. They signed 2021 second-round decide Pat Freiermuth to a four-year, $48 million extension final offseason and in addition return 2023 third-round decide Darnell Washington and 2022 sixth-round tight finish/fullback Connor Heyward. Pittsburgh signed former Chargers tight finish Donald Parham Jr., who has 11 profession touchdowns, earlier this offseason.
The Steelers carried 4 tight ends on their 53-man roster final season. The lone departure from that group was MyCole Pruitt, who wasn’t re-signed after initially becoming a member of the staff on a one-year contract final season.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques and Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.
