In first season with Dolphins, Smith’s numbers rank among the best of all tight ends in 2024
Jonnu Smith is in the midst of a career season.
Through just 12 games, Smith already has career highs in receiving yards (648) and receptions (58), the former of which ranks fourth among all tight ends while the latter leads the team. Smith even has more 100-yard receiving games in 2024 (2) than he did his entire career (1). And just what has been the secret recipe for his success?
“My faith in Jesus Christ has allowed me to just go out there, play free, play confident, you know what I mean?” the Miami Dolphins tight end said Monday, also emphasizing the importance of rest. “My faith has allowed me to know that I’ve been blessed with a gift that can’t go to waste, so it’s got to be daily work put in.”
Added Smith: “Just keeping my mind right and again, just coming up here every day, being joyful that this amazing opportunity I’ve been blessed with to play this game that I love, that I still am in love with and just go out there, be free and be the best version of myself.”
The offensive production is not just stellar by his own metrics; Smith has etched his way into the franchise history books. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith became the first Dolphins tight end to have more than 100 yards receiving and multiple touchdowns in a single game since 1970. His 57-yard catch-and-run touchdown showcased the ability that makes him such a valuable player on any roster: he’s a yards after catch (YAC) monster.
“We’ve had plans to implement him in the past within the offense, so be it, the defense doesn’t allow for him to get as many catches as we would like for him,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said after the 34-19 win over the Raiders. “But it’s been really cool to see his progression from the prime time game we had against the Rams to now. Just being in the right spots. It’s just a lot of the reps that we’ve gotten throughout training camp and leading up to this point.”
“Jonnu is fast, believe it or not,” receiver Tyreek Hill added. I really think Jonnu can run like a low 4.3. He’s that fast and the way Coach [McDaniel] uses him, he does a great job of using him, putting him in situations to make plays that I’ve never seen before. So Jonnu, he’s a real special guy.”
Smith’s season has been a revelation considering the lack of production that has previously come from the tight end position. Despite the Dolphins’ record-setting offense in 2023, not a single tight end scored a touchdown. Even worse: the combination of Durham Smythe and Julian Hill combined for only 41 catches and 414 receiving yards. For context, Smith exceeds that mark in just his last seven games alone.
“I think he’s really gravitated towards the timing and understanding, how being open when the quarterback is ready to throw it to him and being able to use his speed on the stems of routes vertically before he snaps down or does any sort of break,” coach Mike McDaniel said.
Smith, 29, has great benefited from the increased attention given to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. While the two-high safety looks have been used primarily to limit the Dolphins’ high-powered receiver duo, Smith has been able to settle in and find the windows that such an overplay create.
“I think he signed on for the journey with a vision of, ‘Hey, I think I can really take advantage of where defenses are going to try to really load up that intermediate and third level of coverage and that space; I can make people pay,’” McDaniel continued.
As long as teams continue to take away the big play ability of the Dolphins’ offense, Smith should continue to be one of the premiere tight ends in football. Keep in mind: his 648 yards is ahead of Travis Kelce (637) and just behind George Kittle (649).
Despite Smith’s career season, he’s more focused on the team’s success. The Philadelphia native hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2021. And he hasn’t won a postseason game since 2019. An end to that drought — or more accurately, the Dolphins’ 24-year playoff win drought — is likely all that matters.
“Just having individually, the best year of my career, that’s one thing that I’ve always understood: individuals don’t win football games,” Smith said. “Lighting up the stat sheet doesn’t win football games, but I understand that individuals having individual success, if the bulk of the team is having individual success; then that’s going to lead to a bunch of wins, so I’m just trying to do my part and be the best version of myself for this team to put us in the best situation to win games.”
