The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing a familiar issue heading into the 2025 season. They have a defense poised to be one of the best in the NFL, but an offense that may make their job nearly impossible. With the quarterback situation up in the air and a receiving room that is one of the thinnest in the league, they need more firepower if they want to compete.
While wide receiver is their biggest need, a recent report suggests they are looking at a different spot to upgrade the offense. According to Adam Schefter, the Steelers and Miami Dolphins have been in trade talks surrounding Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith.
Smith played for Arthur Smith with both the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons, and he would add a dynamic skillset to the Steelers offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers could look to solve offensive woes with Jonnu Smith trade
On the surface, this trade would be questionable to say the least. The Steelers already have two tight ends who complement each other well in Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Jonnus Smith is a very different player from both of them, however.
While Freiermuth is a threat after the catch due to his size and strength, Smith is much more dynamic in the open field and can legitimately pull away from linebackers and slower defensive backs. Washington has some utility as a receiver, but he is much more of a true blocker than anything.
The former third-round pick is also coming off a career year, with 88 receptions for 886 yards and eight touchdowns. That production dwarfs even Freiermuth's best season, though, to be fair, the Steelers haven't had the same passing production that the Dolphins had last year.
Smith also has the flexibility to line up all over the formation, with over 400 snaps lined up either in the slot or out wide in 2024. That ability would help eat up wide receiver snaps, helping out a thin Steelers receiver room.
The biggest reason this makes sense, of course, is the connection to Arthur Smith. The Smith and Smith duo has been a productive one in the past, and few teams love family/professional connections like the Steelers. It may not be the best way to help improve the offense's ceiling, but it would at least add more explosiveness to a unit that desperately needs it.