Why the Smith Signing Is Significant

The addition of tight end Jonnu Smith fills what was a massive void for the Miami Dolphins last season

The Miami Dolphins made official Friday morning the signing of tight end Jonnu Smith, a move that filled a glaring need for the offense.

While the Dolphins didn't announce terms of the deal, Smith reportedly signed a two-year deal in the city he called home for his college career at Florida International University.

Makin’ it official ✍️ pic.twitter.com/X78oa5klTE

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 8, 2024

The Dolphins were able to sign Smith ahead of the start of free agency because Smith was released by the Atlanta Falcons despite a productive first season with that team.

Word out of Atlanta is that Smith was released, yes, in part because of the $6.5 million cap savings that came with the move but just as much because of a change in offensive philosophy with the arrival of Raheem Morris as head coach and Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator.

The new scheme in Atlanta won't emphasize the tight end position the way the Falcons did under Arthur Smith and former first-round pick Kyle Pitts will be the focal point at the position.

Smith set career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582) for Atlanta last season, and his average of 7.1 yards after the catch ranked third among all NFL tight ends behind only David Njoku and George Kittle.

Smith has started 71 games in his seven NFL seasons and clearly has the pass-catching ability to help the Dolphins offense and provide an element that was sorely missing in 2023.

DOLPHINS NEED MORE FROM TIGHT END POSITION

The Dolphins led the NFL in total yards and passing yards last season, and they did so with very limited statistical contributions from the tight end position.

As most Dolphins fans should know by now, the Dolphins did not get a single touchdown from the tight end position last season, and while it didn't hurt them in the red zone (second in NFL efficiency rate), it probably factored in them ranking only 18th in goal-to-go situations.

The Dolphins passing game has centered around Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle since Mike McDaniel and Hill arrived in 2022, and there's no reason to think to suggest that will change moving forward — and it shouldn't — but it's also clear more contributions from other sources would help.

HOW THE DOLPHINS COMPARED AT TIGHT END TO OTHER PLAYOFF TEAMS

One compelling argument that the lack of tight end receiving production might have hurt the Dolphins in 2023 (despite the No. 1 total offense ranking) is a simple look at the final eight teams in the playoffs — a level the Dolphins missed after their loss against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Durham Smythe and Julian Hill were the only two tight ends to catch passes for the Dolphins in 2023 and their receiving totals were 41 catches for 414 yards.

That the a lower total than any of the eight final teams, close to only the total of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And the Bucs got to the playoffs with a 9-8 record because of their luck of playing in the mediocre NFC South.

Among the other final seven teams — Kansas City, San Francisco, Baltimore, Detroit, Buffalo, Houston and Green Bay — not one got less than 707 receiving yards from their top two tight ends and none got fewer than three touchdowns.

Among the final four teams — the Chiefs, 49ers, Lions and Ravens — all of them got at least 955 receiving yards and at least six touchdowns from their top two tight ends.

Of course, it helps for the Chiefs and 49ers to have absolute stars at the position like Travis Kelce and George Kittle, but the overall results are glaring nonetheless.

It needs to be said that part of the problem was the Dolphins' reluctance to get the tight ends more involved in the passing game (other than blocking), but there should be no excuse any longer, especially after the arrival of Smith, who can catch the ball downfield and get yardage on tight end screens as well.

Signing him could end up being a big move for the offense, if the Dolphins make it a point to get the most out of Smith.

Could Jonnu Smith unseat Durham Smythe as the Dolphins' starting tight end?