The Miami Dolphins have traded veteran tight end John Nu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, as reported Monday morning. At 29 years old, Smith was entering the last year of his contract and hoped to secure a new deal with Miami, but the Dolphins declined. Now, Smith is set to join Pittsburgh, where he is expected to sign a one-year extension worth $12 million.
Smith’s best years with the Dolphins boosted him to a top-five fantasy tight end in 2024, recording career-high receptions and yardage. Heading into the 2025 season, Yahoo analysts had ranked him as the seventh-best tight end, but that ranking is expected to drop following the trade. In Pittsburgh, Smith will compete with Pat Freiermuth for the tight end spot. The Steelers have also revamped their offense, bringing in future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, trading for WR DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, and sending WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, signaling a shift in their passing game strategy.
Fantasy football expert Scott Pianowski expressed skepticism about Smith’s outlook with the Steelers, noting that fantasy football thrives on continuity, and changes like these often disrupt that. Smith had a breakout season last year in Miami, becoming a key offensive weapon with 111 targets, 88 receptions, and eight touchdowns – all career highs. Mike McDaniel’s system clearly suited him well.
Now, Smith faces uncertainty with the Steelers, especially as the team doesn’t have a clear WR2 behind Metcalf, which might allow Smith to play a hybrid role. However, Pat Freiermuth remains the more traditional tight end option. Smith wasn’t entirely effective when sharing snaps with Kyle Pitts under Atlanta’s Arthur Smith system, and while the Steelers have Aaron Rodgers at QB, the fantasy implications look less promising. Rankings for Smith are expected to fall from TE7 to somewhere around TE15, with Freiermuth around TE20. Meanwhile, Miami’s new tight end Julian Hill remains a long shot, currently ranked TE34.
In a surprising twist, the Dolphins are also signing retired tight end Darren Waller to a one-year, up-to-$5 million deal. Waller, a former Pro Bowler with the Las Vegas Raiders, had retired before the 2024 season but played in 12 games for the Giants in 2023 with 52 receptions for 552 yards and one touchdown. Waller now joins Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, and Tanner Conner on Miami’s tight end depth chart.
Fan Take: This trade signals a significant shake-up for both Miami and Pittsburgh, highlighting how teams are willing to pivot quickly in search of offensive stability and fantasy relevance. For NFL fans, it means an intriguing 2025 season with fresh dynamics at the tight end position and new quarterback-receiver relationships to watch closely.
