Jonnu Smith 'Immediately Felt at Home' After Falcons Trade
The Atlanta Falcons are giving Kyle Pitts a tight end partner after acquiring Jonnu Smith in a trade with the New England Patriots last week.
Trading for Smith reunites him with head coach Arthur Smith from their days in Tennessee. The Smiths worked together for four years with the Tennessee Titans when Arthur was the tight ends coach who helped draft Jonnu in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Smiths' relationship was a big part in helping Jonnu feel immediate comfort after the deal.
"When I walked into this building, I immediately felt at home the way I was embraced," Smith said via The Atlanta Journal-Consitution. "Just the chemistry from the people that I met today. That’s always a good feeling to have. I’m excited about where I’m at. Just from watching this team, knowing who Art is and knowing the people he surrounded himself with to build this team. The sky is the limit for him. I’m excited to be a Falcon.”
At his best, Smith is a prototypical ‘move’ tight end, best utilized as an effective target in the red zone. In his final season with the Tennessee Titans in 2020, he totaled 41 receptions for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. All eight of those scores came in the red zone.
Now, he'll hope to replicate some of that magic in Atlanta.
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