The Pittsburgh Steelers have been linked to a possible trade for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, which has left a lot of people scratching their heads.
The interest in Smith is at least a bit strange considering the Steelers already have a starting tight end in Pat Freiermuth and have a dire need at wide receiver instead.
And that's something fellow tight end Connor Heyward touched on when asked about the trade rumors involving the Dolphins Pro Bowler.
Heyward didn't mention wide receiver, but he did rightly question the logic in trading for Smith when Pittsburgh already has a TE1 in Freiermuth.
"We all see it, but let’s be honest. It would be complicated having him and Pat," Heyward said, per Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com. They’re kind of the same type of tight end. They both got to have 100 balls a year thrown their way. You’ve seen that. We all have produced — me, Darnell, and Pat. If that was to happen, we’d welcome it, but at the same time, we know Pat’s our guy right now."
Heyward, who has a vested interest in the Steelers bringing in another tight end, as it could lead to him not getting a roster spot, went on to say he doesn't think the trade will happen.
"How often we’re going to go through him, DK, Cal(vin Austin), and our running backs," Heyward added. "Whenever me and Darnell get it, we make the most of it. We know our role. Pat is one of our major guys here, and not just here with the Steelers, but in the city. People aren’t just saying Muth for no reason. Pat’s here.
"If that was happening, and I don’t think it’s going to happen, but Pat’s here. We have DK. That’s like having George and DK. You’ve got to have one. It’ll be interesting."
One thing we would push back on in regard to comparing Smith and Freiermuth is that Smith is much more athletic and versatile. He can line up at any spot on the formation, including in the slot and out wide.
Now, that's not to say we think trading for Smith would be a good idea, because we don't. The Steelers need another traditional boundary receiver, not a tight end, and Smith is also looking to get paid.
But there is an avenue to make it work with both he and Freiermuth in the same lineup, and if it's between the Steelers adding no pass-catchers or Smith, we'd gladly take the 2024 Pro Bowler, minus a lucrative extension.