Just hours after being traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Pittsburgh Steelers, tight end Jonnu Smith made his feelings known.
They appeared anything but bitter.
“God always do it in the best way,” Smith posted on X, adding black and gold heart emojis. It was a clear nod to his excitement about joining the Steelers and perhaps a subtle parting shot at the Miami Dolphins, who shipped him off in a blockbuster deal alongside cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
The trade brought back veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, while the Dolphins also sent out a 2027 seventh-rounder. While Ramsey was the headliner, Smith’s exit may prove just as important given the void it now creates in Miami’s offense.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed the trade, adding that Ramsey will receive a $1.5 million raise, giving him a 2025 salary of $26.6 million. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that the Steelers signed Smith to a one-year, $12 million contract extension as part of the deal.
The financials speak volumes. Per Over The Cap, the Steelers have the 21st-most cap space in the league at $18.6 million, with $259.8 million in total spending and $6.6 million in dead money. The Dolphins, by contrast, rank 28th in available space at $13.7 million, while spending $232.7 million and carrying $38.4 million in dead money.
Smith is coming off a career-best season, finishing with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight touchdowns — numbers that positioned him as one of Tua Tagovailoa’s most reliable targets in 2024. And he wasn’t just looking for recognition. The 29-year-old and his agent reportedly approached the Dolphins this offseason seeking a new deal. Instead, they were met with a trade ticket to Pittsburgh.
The move has raised questions — again — about the direction of Miami’s roster construction. While the Dolphins have dealt with criticism all offseason, general manager Chris Grier has tried to position this trade as a net win. Some, like OutKick’s Armando Salguero, even believe it might be just that.
“Chris Grier turned a terrible situation in which everyone knew he HAD TO trade Ramsey and gets back a younger player the organization (minus Brian Flores) loved years ago,” Salguero wrote. “The Dolphins could be winning this trade.”
Still, Smith’s departure leaves a glaring hole. And with former Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert already blasting the team on social media, player sentiment doesn’t appear to be on Grier’s side.
Smith’s cryptic but upbeat message may not have said much — but in black and gold, it said just enough.