The Miami Dolphins pose quite a dilemma for Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith. Following a disappointing 2024 season, Smith emerged as one of the veteran voices in the locker room, advocating for change among his teammates. His on-field performance last season has rightfully generated debate on how safe his place is on the team moving forward. He’s still deciding whether to remain based in Miami as trade talks continue.
Smith’s preference to stay in Miami comes after an impressive season where he played 54.8% of the team’s offensive snaps and accounted for roughly a quarter of their total receiving yards. He broke franchise records for tight ends with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight touchdowns. In doing so, he recorded a robust 884 receiving yards, which ranked fourth amongst tight ends across the league. This accomplishment helped cement his reputation as an impact player for the Dolphins.
Smith’s two-year, $8.4 million contract was signed before last offseason. His all-world play has even led to speculation of a contract renegotiation. In 2025, he’s owed $4.09 million, which ranks him 30th among tight ends for total cash owed. This ranking would indicate that he might be a bit undervalued when looking at what he has done lately.
Smith has not participated in his new team’s voluntary OTAs. As Coach Mike McDaniel said, Smith has been “in the building,” making it clear to the organization through the stay-or-go contract battle that he loves being here. The Dolphins only have a little over $14 million in available cap space right now. This is enough to give Smith a bump in pay, but it won’t make him one of the league’s top 10 paid tight ends.
At this point, they’re just weighing their options on whether to retain Smith or trade him. Coach McDaniel emphasized that Smith remains an essential figure within the team, stating, “Jonnu is a very important player and person to me and to the guys.”
In January, Smith expressed a desire for improvement within the team structure, saying, “I would definitely say, definitely a lot more housecleaning rules we can clean up on.” His view reflects the alarming mood that’s taken root among players. Accountability and growth are core principles for them, as they look toward a 2025 run at competitiveness.
Recently NFL wide receiver Austin Jackson—currently on the Dolphins roster—tweeted an exuberant prediction regarding the Dolphins. Even with the cloud of uncertainty hanging over Smith’s status, he continues to be hopeful. “The vibe is optimistic,” Jackson stated. To an alarming extent, he brought an unrelenting business focus to football. He added: The business side is the business side. We can’t control that. We don’t know what’s going to happen next. Nonetheless, we’re hopeful that all these players now on the field will make the smart moves to ensure a victory.
Even as the Dolphins continue to maneuver their expected financial landscape and see what they have on their current roster before next season, Smith’s future is unclear. The management of the team stands at an important crossroads, where they can strengthen their short-term outlook, while positioning them for a strong long-term future.
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