NFL Rumors: Jonnu Smith, Dolphins Agree to 2-Year Contract Worth Up to $10M

The Miami Dolphins reportedly reached an agreement to sign free-agent tight end Jonnu Smith on Thursday following his release from the Atlanta Falcons last month.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Smith and the Dolphins came to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $10 million.

Smith, 28, is a seven-year NFL veteran who has played for the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Falcons during his career.

The Titans selected Smith in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Florida International, and he became an effective player for them over the course of four seasons.

After largely being utilized as a role player in his first two seasons, Smith broke out in 2019, registering 35 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 78 yards.

The following season, Smith had 41 catches for 448 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns, and he rushed for a touchdown as well.

Smith's contributions were enough to compel the Patriots to sign him to a four-year, $50 million contract in 2021. However, the move did not pay dividends for New England, as he combined for just 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown over his two seasons with the Pats.

The Falcons acquired him for pennies on the dollar last offseason, trading the Patriots a seventh-round pick for Smith.

In Atlanta, Smith was reunited with head coach Arthur Smith, who was Jonnu's tight ends coach with the Titans from 2017 to 2018 and offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.

Smith was widely expected to merely be a backup to starting tight end Kyle Pitts in Atlanta, but he still managed to produce some of the best numbers of his career, setting new career highs with 50 catches and 582 yards, while scoring three touchdowns.

Despite starting only six games, Smith finished just three catches and 85 yards behind Pitts, and they had the same amount of touchdowns.

Jonnu became expendable following the firing of Smith, and the Falcons cut him to save money against the salary cap. Since Smith was released, he became eligible to sign with another team before the official start of free agency.

Smith is joining a Dolphins team that has not heavily utilized the tight end position in two seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel.

In 2022, Mike Gesicki had just 32 catches for 362 yards after finishing with over 700 yards in each of the previous two seasons.

After Gesicki left for the Patriots in free agency, the Dolphins deployed Durham Smythe as their top tight end last season, and he recorded 35 receptions for 366 yards and no touchdowns.

Smythe is set to return in 2024, and he seems likely to essentially split time with the incoming Smith.

The primary focus of Miami's passing game are star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who have both gone over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.

That likely means there won't be big numbers in store for Smith in Miami, but he adds some athleticism and explosiveness to the tight end position for a Dolphins offense that is likely already the fastest in the NFL.