The Miami Dolphins can’t afford to trade Jonnu Smith, and here’s why

The Miami Dolphins are about to make one of the worst trades in the franchise’s history. The irony behind this trade is that the player will leave the team rather than join it. Jonnu Smith is walking on a fine line with recent rumors.

The Pittsburgh Steelers reopened negotiations with the Dolphins. After Donald Parham Jr., the starting tight end, tore his Achilles on OTA, the Steelers are moving forward to get Smith.

Yet, Chris Grier and Mike McDanield are making a huge mistake even to consider giving him on a trade. Besides, conversations about restructuring the tight end’s contract are slowing down.

A reliable option when the Dolphins needed it the most

The Miami Dolphins don’t have a deep, tight-end depth chart. Jonnu Smith provides the room’s quality. Without him, the TE position will lose protagonism as it happened in prior years.

Last season, Tua Tagovailoa found a new offensive weapon with Smith. Team coverage stops Tua from throwing the ball to Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle in deep routes. That’s where Jonnu appeared. With his size and crucial ball-catching skills, he helped the Dolphins by running the short and mid routes to find him open.

Jonnu Smith became one of the offense pillars. In a low-production season from Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, the tight end was there to keep the playoff hopes alive.

In the 2024 season, he became the best offensive weapon and set a new franchise record. The 100th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft for the Tennesee Titans got 88 receptions, scoring eight touchdowns and 884 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl selection.

A fair trade from the Miami Dolphins

If Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel decide to pursue this trade, the best option they could get is a player plus a draft pick. The draft pick the Dolphins would get for Jonnu Smith is a fifth or sixth-round.

However, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to sign a starting tight end fast. Donald Parham’s injury forced a change of plans, as the starting offensive weapon will miss the entire 2025 season.

Knowing the desperation from the men of steel, Chris Grier should accept the trade for a sixth-round pick and Darnell Washington. This option is unlikely to happen. Jonnu Smith expressed his desire to stay in Miami.

So, if the franchise known as Blitzburgh wants a crucial player from the Dolphins scheme, Mike McDanield should leave the deal as a winner, not as a loser.

Darnell Washington isn’t as fast or productive as Smith, but he’s a reliable target in the red zone. The former tight end of the University of Georgia is 6.5 and 119kg, which makes him the perfect man to catch on traffic or to catch on top of the defenders.

Washington isn’t only an offensive weapon. His blocking makes him play like an extra lineman, and he knows how to spot open spaces and coverages in the defense.

Last season, the tight end recorded 200 receiving yards for 19 receptions and one touchdown.

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