Shifting offensive schemes and a hefty cap hit point to Jonnu Smith's departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jonnu Smith got lost in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end shuffle last season.
One of four tight ends on the roster, the veteran had 38 receptions for 222 yards – an average of just 5.6 yards per catch -- and two touchdowns. Smith had a better rushing average, gaining 7.8 yards a carry as he ran for 70 yards and one TD on nine attempts.
The Steelers had four tight ends on their roster, and Smith was clearly No. 3 behind Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth.
Smith was part of an offseason trade last year in which the Miami Dolphins sent him and defensive back Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Smith seemed like a good fit for the Steelers as offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s schemes relied heavily on tight ends.
However, Arthur Smith is gone, not retained after coach Mike Tomlin resigned at the end of last season, and Mike McCarthy was hired to replace him. McCarthy will call the plays and is a proponent of the West Coast offense. Smith doesn’t seem to be a good fit, and his time in Pittsburgh could be running out.
At $10,872,000, Smith has the Steelers’ eighth-largest cap number for 2026. He will have a $7-million salary and a prorated signing bonus of $3,872,000. It seems unlikely that Pittsburgh could afford a third tight end at that price next season, which makes Smith a prime candidate for trade or release.
Freiermuth’s cap hit is $11.2 million, while Washington’s is a reasonable $3,828,438. The Steelers would also likely be able to re-sign Connor Heyward at a reasonable cost in free agency. Though noted more for lining up in the backfield in short-yardage situations, Heyward’s primary position is tight end.
Freiermuth and Washington both had decent seasons as Pittsburgh went 10-8 and won its first AFC North title since 2020. Freiermuth had 41 receptions for 486 yards and four touchdowns, while Washington made 31 catches for 364 yards and one touchdown.
Pro Football Focus gave Washington a grade of 71.0 and Freiermuth a grade of 67.5, ranking them 19th and 26th in the NFL, respectively. The 30-year-old Smith was 74th of the 75 tight ends graded with a 46.8 mark.
So, it seems likely the Steelers will bid adieu to Jonnu.
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