The Dolphins and Steelers have had trade talks over Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith after he expressed a desire to rework his contract.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that due to the desire for a new contract from Smith that the Dolphins have started seeking out trade partners for a potential deal, though the tight end would rather remain in Miami under a new deal than be moved. 

Smith is slated to make $4.8 million in 2025 and is entering the final year of a two-year, $8.4 million contract that he signed with the Dolphins in 2024. 

The Pro Bowler is coming off a career year for the Dolphins in which he put up 884 receiving yards on 88 catches and recorded eight touchdowns. 

Those were all career bests for Smith as well as single-season records for any Dolphins tight end. 

A move to the Steelers would reunite Smith and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the tight ends coach in Tennessee when the 29-year-old first entered the league and was head coach in Atlanta in 2023 when the tight end was there. 

While the Steelers already have Pat Freiermuth as their starting tight end, it wouldn’t be hard to see Arthur Smith finding a way to work Jonnu Smith into his offensive scheme, which already puts an emphasis on the tight end. 

The Steelers are in an interesting spot heading into the 2025 season with questions still surrounding their quarterback position. 

Pittsburgh’s offense will include DK Metcalf and Kaleb Johnson, along with Freiermuth, but it’s still unclear who their quarterback will be next season. 

Aaron Rodgers is still expected to sign with the Steelers at some point, but the saga has dragged on longer than anyone had imagined it would be, and at a certain point, it would be easy to imagine that the Steelers would look elsewhere for their QB.