When the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the trade for Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey on Monday, my first thought wasn’t about the blockbuster names—it was about the reunion.
Jonnu Smith is reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the man who once helped launch his career in Tennessee. With both men more experienced and seasoned in the league, I assumed this would be a home run for Pittsburgh’s offense in 2025.
But according to Pro Football Focus, the move may not be as promising as I thought.
Before the trade, Jonnu Smith was ranked sixth among tight ends by PFF. After joining the Steelers, he tumbled down to 19th. That’s a significant drop for a player who just posted 88 receptions, 884 yards, and eight touchdowns —all career highs in Miami and franchise-best numbers for a Dolphins tight end.
So why the sudden lack of faith?
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find the perfect balance of Jonnu Smith in Arthur Smith's system
The answer seems to lie in the system—more specifically, Arthur Smith’s system. While their history together might look like a perfect reunion on paper, PFF’s experts have their doubts about whether Smith can duplicate or sustain that production in Pittsburgh.
Honestly, I get it. The Steelers already have a deep, talented tight end room.
Pat Freiermuth is the clear TE1 in the minds of many, Darnell Washington is a freakish athlete with massive upside, and Connor Heyward is a Swiss Army knife who knows Arthur Smith’s playbook already.
Bringing in Jonnu Smith raises questions. Will he take valuable reps away from younger players still developing? Will Arthur Smith overcommit to old chemistry and lose sight of what he already has?
READ MORE: Steelers just sent a loud message with shocking Jalen Ramsey trade
These are fair concerns. PFF may be reacting to what they see as an unnecessarily complicated situation. And to some degree, they’re right—this is a 'dicey situation'.
But here’s where I disagree: I believe you can never have too many weapons.
In today’s NFL, where mismatches and depth win games, having multiple tight ends who can contribute is a luxury, not a problem. It’ll come down to Arthur Smith managing the rotation and putting each player in the right spot.
If he does that, Jonnu Smith could make the drop in ranking look ridiculous. And if not? Well, at least the Steelers are swinging big—and in this league, that still counts for something.