Jonnu Smith, a tight end, was officially signed by the Miami Dolphins on Friday morning, addressing a clear need in the offense. Smith reportedly signed a two-year contract in the city where he attended Florida International University for his college career, though the Dolphins chose not to disclose the terms of the agreement. Despite having a successful rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons, Smith was released, allowing the Dolphins to sign him before the start of free agency. According to reports from Atlanta, Smith was let go due to a shift in offensive philosophy following the hiring of Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator and Raheem Morris as head coach. The $6.75 million cap savings associated with the move also played a significant role in Smith’s release. The tight end position will not be as prominent in Atlanta’s new scheme as it was under Arthur Smith, with former first-round pick Kyle Pitts serving as the position’s main focal point. Last season, Smith led Atlanta in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582), and his average of seven points after the catch was third among all NFL tight ends, only behind George Kittle and David Njoku. With seven NFL seasons under his belt, Smith has started 71 games. It is obvious that he has the pass-catching ability to boost the Dolphins offense and add something that was sorely lacking in 2023. DOLPHINS NEED MORE FROM TIGHT END POSITION: The Dolphins finished first in the NFL in both passing and total yards last season, despite having very little statistical strength.
The addition of tight end Jonnu Smith to the Miami Dolphins officially occurred on Friday morning, solving a clear hole in the offense. Although the terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Dolphins, Smith is said to have signed a two-year contract in the city where he attended Florida International University for his undergraduate studies. Smith was cut by the Atlanta Falcons after a successful rookie campaign, which allowed the Dolphins to sign him before the start of free agency. Reports from Atlanta state that Smith was let go due to a shift in offensive philosophy following the hiring of Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator and Raheem Morris as head coach, as well as the $6.55 million cap savings associated with the move. Former first-round pick Kyle Pitts will be the center of attention at tight end in Atlanta’s new offensive scheme, which will not emphasize the position as the Falcons did under Arthur Smith. Last season, Smith achieved career highs for Atlanta in terms of receptions (50) and receiving yards (582); among all NFL tight ends, his average of 7 points1 yards after the catch ranked third, only behind George Kittle and David Njoku. Smith, who has made 71 starts in his seven NFL seasons, possesses the pass-catching ability to boost the Dolphins offense and add a crucial component that the team sorely lacked in 2023. Dolphins need more from the tight end position. Last season, the Dolphins led the NFL in both passing and total yards, despite having very little statistical data.
With the signing of tight end Jonnu Smith, the Miami Dolphins officially addressed a clear need in the offense on Friday morning. The Dolphins withheld the terms of the agreement, but Smith reportedly agreed to a two-year contract in the city where he attended Florida International University for his undergraduate studies. A productive first season with the Atlanta Falcons did not prevent Smith from being released, which allowed the Dolphins to sign him before the start of free agency. According to reports from Atlanta, Raheem Morris’s hiring as head coach and Zac Robinson’s appointment as offensive coordinator led to a shift in the offense’s philosophy, which is largely responsible for Smith’s release. Smith was also relieved of his $6.55 million salary cap savings. The tight end spot will not be as prominent in Atlanta’s new scheme as it was under Arthur Smith, with Kyle Pitts, a former first-round pick, serving as the pivot at the position. During the previous season, Smith achieved career highs for receiving yards (582 yards) and receptions (50). He also ranked third among all NFL tight ends with an average of 7 points after the catch, behind only George Kittle and David Njoku. Having started 71 games during his seven NFL seasons, Smith possesses the pass-catching ability to significantly improve the Dolphins offense in 2023 and add a much-needed element. Dolphins need to improve their tight end position. Last season, despite having very few stats, they led the NFL in both passing and total yards.