The Pittsburgh Steelers renewed conversations Tuesday with Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, who is seeking a new contract, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The development brings new life to a possible trade between the Steelers and Dolphins after sources had told Schefter earlier Tuesday that a trade was not expected to be completed.
Sources also told Schefter earlier Tuesday that the team will host free agent wide receiver Gabe Davis on a visit this week. Davis was scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to visit with the Steelers on Thursday, the sources told Schefter.
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Though the Steelers have Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington on the roster, they could be in search of a third true tight end after free agency acquisition Donald Parham Jr. tore his Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s OTA session, sources told Schefter.
After four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Parham spent 2024 on the Broncos’ practice squad and last played in 2023.
The Steelers used MyCole Pruitt, who spent time with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Atlanta, as their third tight end last season, but the team didn’t re-sign him after his one-year contract expired.
Smith, 29, expressed interest to the Dolphins in reworking the two-year deal he signed last offseason, which would pay him $4.8 million in 2025, sources told Schefter.
Drew Rosenhaus, Smith’s agent, said Sunday night that his client’s “first choice” was to remain with the Dolphins.
“Here’s what I will say on behalf of my client: Jonnu would definitely like to stay in Miami. That’s his first choice,” Rosenhaus said in his weekly appearance on WSVN-TV, according to the Miami Herald. “This is where he lives in the offseason. He had a record-breaking season last year. It was the best season ever for a Miami Dolphin tight end. … He broke the team record for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns for a tight end and was the team’s single Pro Bowl player. He’s an incredibly valuable part of this team. … He went to college at FIU. His dream team is the Dolphins.
“Hopefully, everything works out where he can stay in Miami.”
Smith set franchise records for receptions (88) and receiving yards (884) by a tight end last season en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. He led all Dolphins players in receptions in his first year with the team and finished behind only Brock Bowers, Trey McBride and George Kittle leaguewide in receiving yards by a tight end.
The Steelers’ interest in Smith is rooted in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s longstanding relationship with the tight end. Arthur Smith was Jonnu Smith’s tight ends coach and offensive coordinator in Tennessee, and Arthur Smith later traded for his former player during his stint as the Falcons’ head coach.
The Steelers are in search of receiving help after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
The Steelers, though, don’t have a glaring need at tight end. They signed Freiermuth, a 2021 second-round pick, to a four-year, $48 million extension last offseason and also return Washington, a 2023 third-round pick. They also have tight end/fullback Connor Heyward.
Parham, who has 11 career touchdowns, was signed earlier this offseason.
The Steelers carried four tight ends on their 53-man roster last season.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques and Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.
