Pundits have continued to connect the Pittsburgh Steelers to free agent and potentially available for trade wide receivers this summer. But the team did add tight end Jonnu Smith through a trade on June 30.
While appearing on 102.5 DVE’s Morning Show with Randy Baumann on Monday, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac addressed how the arrival of Smith could change the team’s plans for another receiver addition.
“I think, at best, it slowed it down because they figure they can line him [up], flex him [out] and serve as another quote wide receiver,” Dulac said during the radio show, via Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle. “So yeah, I don’t know. They signed Robert Woods, is that Allen Robinson?
“Training camp and the preseason will speak as to whether that is what they think is good going on. Because always by the end of training camp, they decide, ‘Do we still have a hole or weakness somewhere?'”
The Steelers acquired Smith along with cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins in a trade involving safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The two teams also exchanged draft picks in the deal.
The Steelers gave up a 2027 fifth-round pick while they gained a 2027 seventh-rounder from the Dolphins.
How the Steelers Plan to Use TE Jonnu Smith
Speculation as to how Pittsburgh will use its new veteran pass catcher began as soon as the team acquired him. Actually, it was more than speculation.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reported on X that the organization sees Smith fulfilling several different roles in 2025.
“What I have been told is the Steelers’ view Jonnu Smith as a TE, a slot WR, and a fullback — they will use him in a very hybrid way in Arthur Smith’s offense,” posted Kaboly on X.
That won’t really be anything new for the veteran tight end. In 2024, Smith lined up for only 26.6% of his snaps at the traditional in-line tight end position. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith played 46% of his snaps in the slot and 23.8% of his snaps out wide last season.
Smith started playing out wide a lot more two years ago with the Atlanta Falcons. That continued for him last season, but he added a consistent slot receiver role for the Dolphins as well.
Playing in all three of those spots during 2024, Smith posted a career-best 88 catches, 884 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Steelers TE Depth Entering 2025 NFL Training Camp
The Steelers will need Smith to play multiple positions for a few different reasons.
First, the team still has tight end Pat Freiermuth. Even with Smith on the roster, Freiermuth is the team’s top tight end, and his role should go as unchanged as possible. Freiermuth had a career-high 65 catches for 653 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith also loves deploying multi-tight end sets. But to be on the field a lot in different situations, Jonnu Smith will have to be flexibility with where he lines up at the snap.
Based on his previous experience in a versatile role, that shouldn’t be an issue. It was actually in Arthur Smith’s offense two years ago with the Falcons that the tight end began playing more receiver and in the slot.
Pundits have linked the Steelers to free agent receivers such as Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen recently. Potential trade targets have arisen as well such as San Francisco 49ers’ Jauan Jennings.
But Pittsburgh might be waiting to see how Smith gels with the team’s offense before identifying receiver as still an outstanding need.
In addition to Smith and Freiermuth, the Steelers have Darnell Washington, Connor Heyward and undrafted free agent JJ Galbreath also on the offseason roster.
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