When it comes to possible cut candidates for the Pittsburgh Steelers, tight end Jonnu Smith is at the top of the list.
The Steelers acquired Smith in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last offseason and Pittsburgh went on to sign him to a one-year, $12 million contract extension.
The move proved to be a bust, as Smith was barely utilized in the offense and he didn’t do much when given opportunities. The move never made much sense to begin with, as the Steelers were already well-stocked at tight end with Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth.
Looking ahead to this offseason, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo agrees that Smith is the most likely Steelers player to be cut this offseason.
“Smith could be an effective weapon in an offense in which he can play a higher percentage of plays,” DeFabo said. “But if the Steelers can’t find a trade partner, it makes sense to cut him and save $7 million of his $10.9-million cap hit.”
Finding a trade partner could prove difficult given Smith’s salary, but the Steelers can make things easier on themselves by taking on some of that money. That said, we believe Smith will ultimately be cut.
When at his best and in the right offense, Smith can be an explosive playmaker who can be utilized in a multitude of ways.
We saw that during his lone season in Miami, when Smith ripped off 884 yards on 88 catches while scoring two touchdowns and adding nine carries for 70 yards and another score en route to a Pro Bowl nod.
Three teams that could have interest in Smith are the New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders.
The Giants have a promising young tight end in Theo Johnson, but the jury is still out on him after two seasons in the NFL. New York could use a veteran addition like Smith, who can also provide the upgrade in the passing game the Giants need.
The Commanders’ uncertainty at tight end is because of Zach Ertz, who suffered a torn ACL in 2025 and is a pending free agent. At 35 years old, it’s not crazy to believe Ertz could hang up his cleats.
Kansas City’s interest in Smith will depend upon what happens with Travis Kelce, who may also retire. If Kelce departs, the Chiefs will have a massive hole to fill in their passing attack that Smith could help out with. And, if there’s any coach who can get the most out of Smith, it’s Andy Reid.
When it comes to compensation in free agency, Smith shouldn’t command much given the fact that he’s coming off a down year. We could see Smith signing a one- or two-year deal that pays him $5-6 million annually.
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