Breaking down the terms of new Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith’s contract

Here’s a look at Jonnu Smith’s contract with Miami.

The Miami Dolphins have been looking for a versatile tight end to join Mike McDaniel’s offense since the head coach arrived in 2022, and they may have found one in tight end Jonnu Smith.

Smith, 29, signed a two-year deal worth $8.4 million to join the Dolphins last week.

According to Over the Cap, he will receive base salaries of $1.121 million (fully guaranteed) in 2024 and $3.49 million in 2025. The contract also includes three void years (2026-28), so the $2.75 million signing bonus is prorated to be just $550,000 for the two years he’s set to be on the team. He also has $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses ($250,000 in 2024 and $500,000 in 2025) as well as $200,000 in workout bonuses ($100,000 each year).

The contract voids if Smith is on Miami’s roster on the fifth day after the 2025 Super Bowl, in which case, the remaining $1.65 million will become a dad cap hit for the team in 2026.

This is a smart move by Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and company to spread the cap hits out down the line and make things easier to capitalize on the team’s current window.

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Best photos of new Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith

We’ve put together a gallery of photos showcasing Jonnu Smith’s career.

The Miami Dolphins have been looking for a versatile tight end to fit head coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive scheme, and they seem to have found one in Jonnu Smith, who the team signed last week.

Prior to signing with Miami, Smith played collegiately for FIU and professionally for the Tennessee Titans (2017-20), New England Patriots (2021-22) and Atlanta Falcons.

As Dolphins fans familiarize themselves with the team’s newest offensive addition, we’ve put together a gallery of photos from his previous stops in the NFL to showcase his career to this point.

Take a look:

Ex-Titans TE Jonnu Smith signing with Dolphins

Former Titans TE Jonnu Smith has found a new home with the Dolphins.

Former Tennessee Titans tight end and 2017 third-round pick, Jonnu Smith, is signing with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, according to multiple reports.

And Smith himself has confirmed as much after tweeting out dolphins emojis from his X account. The deal is reportedly for two years and worth up to $10 million. Smith is now on his fourth team in the NFL.

After four seasons with the Titans, Smith was inked to a massive deal by the New England Patriots that he was never going to be able to live up to. New England overpaid badly, plain and simple.

Following two seasons with the Pats, Smith was a cap casualty and eventually landed back with his former position coach and offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, who was head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Smith went on to have a career year, even with former first-round pick and tight end Kyle Pitts in the same offense. The Florida International product finished with a career-best 582 receiving yards.

To be quite frank, I’m excited to see what a freak athlete like Smith can do in a Mike McDaniel offense. Jonnu has a myriad of ways to impact football games and McDaniel will no doubt have plenty up his sleeve for him.

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Ex-Falcons TE Jonnu Smith signs 2-year deal with Miami Dolphins

Former Falcons TE Jonnu Smith has signed a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth up to $10 million

The Atlanta Falcons released tight end Jonnu Smith last week in a move that saved the team over $6 million in salary cap space. Smith, 28, has already found a new home, signing a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth up to $10 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Smith posted a career-high 50 catches for 582 receiving yards and three touchdowns in Atlanta last season. The Falcons acquired the pass-catching tight end in a trade with the New England Patriots during the 2023 offseason. Smith was added as insurance for Kyle Pitts, who was coming off a severe knee injury.

Pitts bounced back with a 53-catch, 667-yard season in 2023, plus the Falcons aren’t expected to run as many two-tight end sets this year with Zac Robinson taking over as offensive coordinator. Check out 20 recent cap casualties that Atlanta should consider signing in free agency.

 

Dolphins sign TE Jonnu Smith to a two-year deal

Dolphins add a veteran TE to their roster.

The Miami Dolphins have been looking for a versatile tight end since Mike McDaniel arrived in South Florida, and it looks like they’ve finally landed one.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins have signed Jonnu Smith to a two-year contract worth $10 million.

Smith, 28, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft out of FIU. He played out his rookie contract with the Titans before joining the New England Patriots (2021-22) and being traded to the Atlanta Falcons (2023).

In his seven seasons, Smith has recorded 114 receptions for 1,302 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He has a ton of athleticism and is a willing blocker, which should fit well in McDaniel’s scheme.

15 free agents the Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Baltimore Ravens can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Baltimore will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass defensive tackle Justin Madubuike is the biggest concern this offseason after getting the franchise tag, but the Ravens must also navigate 26 looming free agents.

GM Eric DeCosta has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

DeCosta and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Baltimore could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against 2025 compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 free agents the Philadelphia Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks for 2025

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away. With the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro pass rusher Haason Reddick is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles must also navigate 20 looming free agents.

GM Howie Roseman has clarified that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and retool via the draft with a handful of 2025 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

According to Over The Cap, plenty of players who can help the team and not detract from the formula will be available.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldn’t count against 2025 compensatory picks.

Ex-Falcons TE Jonnu Smith in contract negotiations with Dolphins

Ex-Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith is in contract negotiations with the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter

The Atlanta Falcons acquired Jonnu Smith in a trade with the New England Patriots last offseason, and the veteran tight finished the year with career highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (582).

Smith provided depth as Kyle Pitts worked his way back from a severe knee injury in 2023. The Falcons released Smith last week to free up over $6 million in salary cap space for the 2024 season. As expected, NFL teams are already showing interest in the speedy tight end.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith is meeting with the Miami Dolphins and the two are currently negotiating a contract.

Falcons fans assumed former head coach and current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith would go after Smith, but it looks like Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel beat him to the punch.

Atlanta is not expected to run as many two-tight end sets in 2024 under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Perhaps the team will target a more traditional tight end in the draft since it has little depth behind Pitts.

Dolphins negotiating contract with TE Jonnu Smith

Miami hosted a recently cut TE, and the sides are negotiating a contract.

The Miami Dolphins, despite being over the salary cap with just over a week left to go before the start of the new year league, are still trying to improve their roster.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins hosted tight end Jonnu Smith on Tuesday, and the two sides are in contract negotiations.

Smith, 28, was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2017 draft after playing for FIU in college. He recorded 114 receptions for 1,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in his four seasons with Tennessee before signing a huge four-year, $50 million deal with the New England Patriots.

Smith lasted just two seasons in New England, bringing in just 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown.

The Patriots traded Smith to the Atlanta Falcons last year, and he had a bit of a resurgence, catching 50 passes for 582 yards and three scores before he was cut last week.

Miami has been searching for a versatile tight end, and Smith could be just the guy to fill the role in Mike McDaniel’s scheme.

WATCH: Tyrann Mathieu sends the Saints into halftime with crucial interception

WATCH: Tyrann Mathieu sends the Saints into halftime with crucial interception vs. Falcons

The New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons had offensive issues define the first half. Right before teams took to the locker rooms, Desmond Ridder threw his first interception of the day.

The Falcons were driving down the field, looking to push their lead before the end of the half, before Tyrann Mathieu swooped in and took the ball away. It was Mathieu’s second interception of the season and his fifth in a Saints uniform.

The play ended in scuffle after emotions got raised during the drive. A couple of physical runs from Cordarelle Patterson had the two teams chippy already, then Jonnu Smith and Khlaen Saunders got into it. The two players had offsetting penalties and the Saints were able to knee the half out.

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