Insider says Steelers are ‘team to watch’ for released playmaker

The Steelers are expected to be active once again in free agency with second-year general manager Omar Khan. However, they have just $8.9M in cap space ahead of the start of the new league year on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET.

ESPN’s Field Yates doesn’t think that is going to stop Pittsburgh from signing a recently released playmaker.

“Arthur Smith loves Jonnu Smith,” Yates posted on platform X. “That alone makes me feel like the Steelers are a team to watch for his next stop.”

Jonnu Smith was released by the Falcons on Tuesday after catching 50 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns in 2023.

However, Jonnu Smith’s relationship with Arthur Smith, the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator, carries more weight than his production last season. 

The two worked together on the Titans from 2017-20 and then again, of course, last year when Arthur Smith was Atlanta’s head coach.

Although Jonnu Smith would be a great addition to Pittsburgh’s tight end room, it is not a position of need for the team.

The Steelers have already invested a few draft picks in the position, using a second-round pick on Pat Freiermuth in 2021, a sixth-round pick on Connor Heyward in 2022 and a third-round pick on Darnell Washington in 2023.

The three players combined for just 62 catches for 536 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, but that was a result of Freiermuth missing five games with a hamstring injury.

That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh won’t attempt to sign Jonnu Smith this offseason, but it could move on from one of the three tight ends on the current roster or result in Heyward, a hybrid-type player, moving to another position.

The Steelers are expected to take a heavier run approach with Arthur Smith taking over the offense in 2024. So, maybe they would be fine with carrying four tight ends on the active roster.

If that’s the case, Jonnu Smith could be a shoo-in to join Pittsburgh in the coming weeks.