Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers made notable acquisitions aiming to transform their roster significantly by adding veteran players, including a defensive back and tight end Jonnu Smith. These moves, designed to strengthen both offense and defense, have not produced the desired results as performance struggled to meet expectations.
The experienced defender faced difficulties adapting at his primary cornerback position and was moved to safety to stabilize his contribution. Meanwhile, Smith joined a crowded tight end corps featuring Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, where no single player emerged as dominant.
With Smith, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward, the Steelers had one of the most talented, versatile and deep tight end rooms in the league — or so they thought,
The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena observed.
In reality, two of the NFL’s 10 highest-paid tight ends (Smith and Freiermuth) on the same roster was one too many.
This lack of breakthrough was reflected in the team’s repeated first-round exit from the playoffs.
Washington Commanders Could Emerge as Trade Destination for Jonnu Smith
Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, both high-profile offseason additions are being considered as possible cut candidates, with trade potential especially weighing on Smith’s future. One plausible suitor identified is the Washington Commanders, who may seek to bolster their receiving options.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton highlighted how the Commanders, with offensive coordinator David Blough’s focus on Terry McLaurin, need additional reliable targets in their passing game. Smith’s skill set fits this need:
Washington needs a pass-catcher who will take some of the attention away from McLaurin. Last year, the front office gave up a fifth-round pick in exchange for Deebo Samuel. This offseason, the club should look for a big-bodied pass-catcher who can replace soon-to-be free agent Zach Ertz as Daniels’ safety valve in the passing attack,
Moton explained.
With veteran Zach Ertz unlikely to return and limited production from Ben Sinnott, Smith’s proven ability on passing downs—evidenced by seasons with at least 50 receptions and over 580 yards—could address Washington’s void. Moton added:
Washington can bring in Jonnu Smith, who’s a proven playmaker on passing downs with at least 50 catches and 582 receiving yards in two of the previous three seasons. As part of a three-man tight end group in Pittsburgh, he may be open to a change of scenery,
Moton added.
However, Smith’s 2025 statistics, which include 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns, fall short of expectations, especially in an already costly tight end roster.
Financial Considerations Favor Potential Trade or Release
Financially, the Steelers find themselves in a position where moving Smith is feasible without excessive penalty. The dead cap charge for releasing him, whether before or after June 1, is $3.8 million for 2026, while the team would save around $7 million in salary cap space, according to Spotrac.
The central issue concerns the return Pittsburgh might receive. Holding 10 draft picks for 2026, the Steelers may only consider a trade worthwhile if it allows them to move up in the draft or includes additional players. Otherwise, the value of compensation might not justify offloading Smith, who never fulfilled the impact anticipated when acquired.
Despite this, if another NFL team views Smith as more than a rotational contributor, the Steelers could recover assets from an otherwise disappointing addition.
"This thing's going to be built around, how do we get Terry 10 targets a game?"
Some insight into Blough's offense and the plan to get Terry McLaurin double digit opportunities to make a play. More in writing from @DHarrison82 here: https://t.co/rebWXvJmRk pic.twitter.com/C9pu408nnl
— John Doran (@JohnDoranTV) February 12, 2026
