Jonnu Smith’s bold statement after moving from Miami to Pittsburgh Steelers

The dust is starting to settle after a surprising trade between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins shook things up in the AFC. Jonnu Smith is now in Pittsburgh and ready to be treated like one of the best tight ends in the league.

No ill will towards Miami

Just a few weeks away from the start of training camp the Steelers and Dolphins orchestrated one of the trades of the offseason, as cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith were dealt to Pittsburgh for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. While there are no hard feelings, the move did come as a bit of a surprise for the tight end.

“Obviously I had aspirations of ending my career in Miami, with it basically being home for me, my children, my family. But I understand the business side of it, and it didn’t work out. I’m grateful. I’ve got no ill feelings toward Miami and nobody in the organization,” Smith told former Miami Dolphin Terron Armstead on his podcast.

Smith was the second leading receiver for the Dolphins in a season that Miami missed out on the playoffs. He’s 88 catches for 884 yards and 8 TDs were a career high in what would be his first and only year in Miami. While Smith grew comfortable in Miami and wanted to make it his home, the business side complicated that a bit more. “Eventually it came a point and time when they told me that they just can’t do it, it wasn’t economically able to put me in a position to be paid like a Pro Bowl tight end. And that one stung, and we tried to figure it out and we just couldn’t,” said the tight end.

Smith feels valued in Pittsburgh

Now Smith is heading to a Pittsburgh team that is seemingly all-in for this season. It’s Super Bowl or bust for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2017. The Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, brought in Jalen Ramsey along with Smith, and they are aiming at being a contender this season.

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Not only will Smith be on a team that has lofty expectations, but he got the deal he was looking for too. The Steelers gave him the one year, $12 million contract that Miami couldn’t offer him because of their limited cap space, and now Smith says he is being compensated like one of the best in the league.

“I had to make the decision to say ‘Man, well I’ve got to go where I am appreciated and viewed on paper, economically, contract-wise as a top guy in this league which I know I am. And Pittsburgh was the team that saw me as that.”