Contract Terms
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the free-agent tight end Jonnu Smith and the Miami Dolphins reached an agreement on a two-year deal worth up to $10 million.
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Fantasy Football Impact
Smith has found a new team, and the Dolphins might have found a tight end capable of handling a receiving role in Mike McDaniel's offense.
As ESPN.com's Marcel Louis-Jacques noted, the Dolphins have struggled to get production out of the tight end position under McDaniel. Mike Gesicki led Miami tight ends with 362 yards in 2022, and Durham Smythe did so with 366 yards last season.
Miami tried to further bolster the position last offseason, drafting Elijah Higgins in the sixth round. But he did not make the 53-man roster, with the spot instead going to undrafted free agent Julian Hill.
A third-round pick by the Titans, Smith spent four seasons in Tennessee before signing in New England in 2021, where he played two seasons. The Patriots traded him to Atlanta last offseason. Smith has played in 107 games, making 78 starts. He has caught 219 passes for 2,423 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career.
Smith posted career highs in receptions (50) and yards (582) in Atlanta's offense under former coach Arthur Smith last season. The two had been familiar from their time together in Tennessee. Most notably last year, Smith finished third among all TEs in YAC over expected (110) last season, per Next Gen Stats. NFL.com's Kevin Patra notes he finished seventh overall in YAC (379) among tight ends despite far fewer catches than those above him. Smith's 1.7 yards per route run finished 11th among all TEs (min. 200 routes).
According to Louis-Jacques, Smith slots in as the Dolphins' best receiving tight end, with Hill more of a blocker and Smythe serving in a hybrid role.
The news was met with varying degrees of enthusiasm among Footballguys staffers.
"The combination of blocking prowess, speed, and being a bully after the catch will always draw run-first offenses in on a player like Smith," according to Sigmund Bloom, who added: "He wasn't worth what the Patriots paid him, but he is still useful."
The four-year deal Smith signed in New England was worth up to $50 million. It included a whopping $31 million in guaranteed money.
Dave Kluge believes Smith is a better fit in Miami's offense than Gesicki, Smythe, Tyler Kroft, or any other TE they've had under McDaniel.
"Of all the possible landing spots," Kluge said, "Miami probably piques my interest the most."
Could we see a George Kittle-like role here?
Jason Wood isn't so sure.
"He's 28 years old, heading to his fourth team," Wood argued. "He's averaged two receptions per game over his career. Pencil him in for 35-45 catches and hope for a smattering of touchdowns when Miami is in the red zone, and call it a day."
Reasonable enough.
The good news is that Smith will be a bargain for those currently in the best-ball rooms. He's TE39 at BestBall 10s and TE44 on Underdog. There's obviously upside at those prices, but given the destination and overall potency of Miami's offense, expect them to rise to the TE2-3 range in short order.
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The Fantasy Football Fallout
While Smith's arrival isn't great news for Smythe, the development won't have a significant ripple effect in Miami. Smith certainly isn't going to put a dent in Tyreek Hill's or Jaylen Waddle's workloads. Nor is he likely to have a significant enough role to be a difference-maker for Tua Tagovailoa consistently.
The best news related to Smith came when Atlanta released him. He'll no longer be on hand to vulture big-play opportunities from Kyle Pitts.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
The Dolphins and Jonnu Smith have agreed on a two-year, $10 million contract that could work out for both parties. As NFL.com suggested, the Dolphins needed help in the tight end room after the position did little last season -- zero touchdowns from their TEs. Smith adds more speed to the offense and gives head coach Mike McDaniel another run-after-catch option in his offense in 2024. While none of the team's TEs should be high on your radar, Smith moves ahead of Durham Smythe as the fantasy tight end of note in Miami.
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