Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith wants a new contract, but he is not looking to leave Miami.
Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith is not necessarily looking to leave the Miami Dolphins, despite rumors that the team could be listening to trade offers. Smith, who set franchise records for his position in receptions (88), receiving yards (884), and receiving touchdowns (8) in 2024, is looking for a new contract this year. Signing a two-year contract in 2023, Smith has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal and no security beyond this season.
On Sunday night, Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, spoke with WSVN-7 in Miami and provided some thoughts on Smith’s situation. “Here’s what I will say on behalf of my client: Jonnu would definitely like to stay in Miami,” Rosenhaus stated, according to a transcription from the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “That’s his first choice. This is where he lives in the off-season. He had a record-breaking season last year.”
He continued, “It was the best season ever for a Miami Dolphin tight end… He broke the team record for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns for a tight end and was the team’s single Pro Bowl player. He’s an incredibly valuable part of this team… He went to college at FIU. His dream team is the Dolphins.”
Rosenhaus added, “Hopefully, everything works out where he can stay in Miami.”
The free agent market for veteran tight ends is light, with no clear favorite to replace Smith if Miami were to make a trade. The Dolphins’ tight end room without Smith would include free agent signing Pharaoh Brown, Julian Hill, Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci, and rookie Jalin Conyers.
Rosenhaus is positioning Smith to be the good guy in a contract battle with the Dolphins, making sure the fans know he wants to stay in Miami and the franchise is his dream place. If the Dolphins trade him or do not offer him a new contract, it is not because Smith did not want to play here, but rather because the Dolphins were unwilling to keep him.
Smith’s two-year contract was for $8.4 million, with a $3.5 million salary for 2025. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career after the season.