The Steelers' 2025 season was a disaster, and the handling of tight end Jonnu Smith's acquisition is a microcosm of their many mistakes. But was it a blunder or a calculated risk gone wrong?
A Season of Missteps:
The Steelers' woes began early, cutting Darius Slay and Juan Thornhill, who were initially brought in as starting secondary members. They traded for Jalen Ramsey, envisioning a formidable man-to-man defense, but James Pierre surprisingly emerged as their second-best cornerback. And the story of George Pickens' departure, replaced by the suspended DK Metcalf, is a tale of unfortunate events.
The Jonnu Smith Gamble:
The Steelers' biggest gamble, however, was acquiring Jonnu Smith, a tight end with a history of underwhelming blocking and a connection to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The team hoped to pair him with Pat Freiermuth, but this strategy backfired spectacularly.
Smith's performance was abysmal, finishing the regular season with a mere 222 receiving yards and a league-worst 4.1 yards per target among tight ends since 2019. This statistic is even more shocking when considering he was targeted 54 times, a significant increase from his rookie season.
But here's where it gets controversial: despite his poor performance, Smith remained a fixture in the Steelers' lineup, playing 52% of the team's offensive snaps. This decision is baffling, especially when compared to Freiermuth, who played a career-low 552 snaps and still managed a career-high 9 yards per target.
A Coordinated Failure:
Arthur Smith's loyalty to his namesake tight end is perplexing. It's clear that Jonnu Smith was not living up to expectations, yet he continued to take snaps away from more deserving players like Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward.
The Steelers' coaching staff, including head coach Mike Tomlin, failed to address this issue. While they made commendable adjustments in the secondary, their mismanagement of the tight end position is inexcusable. It's as if they were blind to the obvious solution: bench Jonnu Smith and let Freiermuth shine.
A Season of What-Ifs:
The Steelers' 2025 season ended with a disappointing playoff loss to the Houston Texans, and the tight end position remains a sore spot. The acquisition of Jonnu Smith, the coordinator's stubbornness, and the head coach's oversight all contributed to a preventable failure.
Was it a case of blind loyalty or a strategic move gone wrong? The Steelers' front office has some tough questions to answer, and fans are left wondering what could have been if they had made different decisions. The controversy surrounding this issue is sure to spark debate among Steelers Nation.
