Let's make one thing abundantly clear: the Miami Dolphins and tight end Jonnu Smith are a great fit together on the field. 

The Dolphins endured a bunch of soft coverage cushion in 2024 and failed to have the offensive balance needed to punish teams consistently for their coverage structures. As a result, Miami was afforded a lot of space underneath and dared to methodically dink and dunk their way down the field. Smith, to his credit, was a prime addition in that type of role — he consistently picked up tough yards underneath and served as a big-bodied run after catch threat that the Dolphins did not have in 2022 or 2023 under head coach Mike McDaniel. 

But the prospect of staying together is no longer just about what happens on the football field. Smith and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are seeking a new deal from the Dolphins. One that, most notably, pays him significantly more than he's currently scheduled to receive in the final year of his current contract. Miami would reportedly like to oblige, but the gap between the two is sizable enough that the Dolphins are exploring all options with Smith, including a potential trade. 

If a trade were to come to life for Smith, the Pittsburgh Steelers have to be considered the team in the driver's seat. Multiple outlets have reported that the Steelers have stayed in touch with Miami about his services. But Smith is indeed under contract with the Dolphins in 2025 and Miami is looking to remain competitive despite their current youth movement. The Dolphins feel unlikely to give Smith away just because their outlook beyond 2025 is currently muddy. 

What do recent trades at the position tell us about what it may take to wrestle Smith away from the Dolphins or, more specifically, what the Dolphins should expect in the form of offers? 

Three Recent Tight End Trades Relevant To Jonnu Smith

Jonnu Smith to Atlanta in 2023

Atlanta receives: Tight end Jonnu Smith
New England receives: 2023 Seventh-round draft choice

What better way to gauge the NFL's appetite for trading Jonnu Smith with big money on the line than to see exactly how it happened two years ago? Smith was on a big contract after signing with the Patriots in free agency and owed more than $10 million in compensation for the upcoming year. The Falcons, in a bid to reunite Smith with Arthur Smith, traded pocket change away to secure Smith. 

The only differences between then and now are that Smith's stock is higher off of a career season, Smith is two years older, and Smith would need a new contract instead of acquiring a preexisting deal. 

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Zach Ertz to Arizona in 2021 (Trade deadline)

Arizona receives: Tight end Zach Ertz
Philadelphia receives: 2022 Fifth-round draft choice, CB Tay Gowan

The Eagles transitioned away from their long-time star in October of 2021 in his age 31 season. The compensation was perhaps the most robust of any of the names included on this list — which helped to surely get a deal done. Having an emerging Dallas Goedert didn't hurt, either. 

A trade was prompted in part by a 2-4 start for the Eagles, who would go on to turn things around in the second half of the year to finish 9-8 and make the playoffs in Jalen Hurts' first year as a starter. 

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Chris Herndon to Minnesota in 2021

Minnesota receives: Tight end Chris Herndon, 2022 Sixth-round draft choice
New York Jets receives: 2022 Fourth-round draft choice

If Miami wants more than a fifth-round draft choice, this may need to be the avenue they pursue. Herndon did not put up anywhere near the numbers that Smith has in his career but he was traded to Minnesota while playing on a rookie contract — making the financials much easier to digest and take a swing at than the pending contract extension Smith is hoping for. 

Herndon had a terrific rookie season in New York, starting 12 games while posting 39 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns in 2018. 

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Two Less Recent Tight End Trades To Remember

Julius Thomas to Miami in 2017

Miami receives: Tight end Julius Thomas
Jacksonville receives: 2017 Seventh-round draft choice

Thomas was a breakout star in Denver in 2013 and 2014, posting 24 receiving touchdowns in those two seasons and being named twice to the Pro Bowl. He signed a five-year, $36 million contract with the Jaguars in free agency in 2015. It was quickly accepted to be a mistake. 

Thomas faltered with both durability and production issues and averaged less than 10 yards per reception across two seasons in Jacksonville before Miami was willing to take on his salary in 2017 for pocket change. Thomas, like Jonnu Smith, was predominantly a receiving tight end. But in his age 29 season in 2017, Thomas put up modest numbers with the Dolphins and was out of the league shortly after.

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Vernon Davis to Denver in 2015 (Trade deadline)

Denver receives: Tight end Vernon Davis, 2016 Seventh-round draft choice
San Francisco receives: 2016 Sixth-round draft choice, 2017 Sixth-round draft choice

Davis' prime exceeded that of Smith, but their build and style of play has some pretty notable overlap. Both are "flex" tight end options who are best in space and with the ball in their hands. Davis, in his age-31 season in 2015, was traded to Denver in a contract year. He played out the rest of the year on his preexisting contract and then left in free agency to finish his career in Washington. 

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Is It Worth It?

The vast majority of these deals at the position include late-round pick swaps or mid-Day Three draft selections. With that knowledge of value, the Dolphins, in their transition year, must ask if it's worth the track record of trade value to make a deal versus prompting Smith to accept their offers, or alternatively, potentially sit out training camp and possibly games. 

The likelihood of Smith garnering an offer that would elicit movement from the Dolphins is slim. So set your expectations for this "fluid" situation accordingly. 

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