When the Pittsburgh Steelers added tight end Jonnu Smith in the Minkah Fitzpatrick/Jalen Ramsey swap with the Miami Dolphins this offseason, fans expected him to become a prominent part of the offense. Not only was he coming off the best statistical season of his career in 2024, but he had plenty of history with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith from their days together in Tennessee and Atlanta.
Instead, Smith has been one of the least efficient pass catchers in all of football this season. Among the 195 players with at least 25 targets this season, he ranks 192nd in yards per target with 4.3, according to Pro Football Reference. For reference, he averaged 8.0 yards per target last season with Miami.
It has been a disastrous season for the 2024 Pro Bowler, and his future with the Steelers is firmly in question despite signing a new deal that extended his contract into 2026. If they do move on from Smith, another former Arthur Smith favorite could be a better fit.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts just had his best game in the NFL in Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he could be just what Pittsburgh needs to elevate its passing attack.
Pittsburgh Steelers should pursue Kyle Pitts this offseason to replace Jonnu Smith
Pitts has been the butt of many jokes ever since he failed to repeat his phenomenal rookie season, but he has been a steady part of the Falcons' passing game for the past three seasons. In 2025, he is having the best season of his career since his 1,026-yard rookie year, with 73 receptions for 797 yards and four touchdowns.
Much of that production has come in games with star receiver Drake London injured. In the five games London has missed this season, Pitts has amassed 422 of his yards and three of his touchdowns.
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While that may indicate that he is simply benefiting from less competition for targets, I think it also shows that he can be very productive if he is involved enough in the game plan. The Steelers desperately need more weapons to take some pressure off of DK Metcalf, and the solution doesn't appear to be on the roster right now.
Pitts offers a rare combination of size and speed for any receiver, and he has shown the ability to line up anywhere on the field. He has played primarily in the slot during his time in Atlanta, but he can step outside frequently and even play a more traditional tight end role if needed.
If he were to come to Pittsburgh, he would be a perfect pairing with the massive Darnell Washington. The Steelers are already at their best when using heavy packages, but injecting the explosiveness Pitts offers into that mix could be what takes it to the next level.
It's hard to say what kind of contract it would take to bring him in, and it's likely Atlanta will try to retain him. But if the opportunity presents itself, and the price is right, he could be everything that the Steelers were hoping Smith would be.