PITTSBURGH — The Mike McCarthy era officially started in the Steel City, and the new head coach isn’t wasting time evaluating a bloated roster. Last June, Pittsburgh swung for the fences. The front office acquired veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins in a massive exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. General Manager Omar Khan believed the aggressive move would push the team deep into the AFC playoffs.
Instead, the experiment backfired. Ramsey, now 31, struggled at boundary corner before sliding to safety to salvage his season. Meanwhile, Smith suffocated in an overloaded tight end room. Now, facing a familiar early-round playoff exit and a massive salary cap crunch, the Steelers are aggressively shopping Smith. A Jonnu Smith trade seems imminent, and the Washington Commanders might just pull the trigger.
The $7 Million Roster Logjam
Pittsburgh boasts one of the most expensive and crowded tight end depth charts in football. By pairing Smith with Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward, the offensive staff manufactured a bottleneck. Two of the NFL’s 10 highest-paid tight ends shared the exact same sideline, effectively neutralizing each other.
Smith’s 2025 production crashed back to earth. He caught just 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers hardly justify his heavy contract. Releasing or trading him clears roughly $7 million in cap space while leaving behind a manageable $3.8 million dead cap hit for 2026. For a team needing to reload under McCarthy, shedding that salary is a no-brainer.
Washington Needs a Safety Valve
Enter the Washington Commanders. New offensive coordinator David Blough plans to funnel the passing attack through star wideout Terry McLaurin. Defenses know this. Washington desperately requires a secondary weapon to pull safeties out of the box and free up the deep thirds of the field.
Bleacher Report NFL analyst Moe Moton recently identified the Commanders as the most logical trade partner for Pittsburgh.
“Washington needs a pass-catcher who will take some of the attention away from McLaurin,” Moton wrote. “This offseason, the club should look for a big-bodied pass-catcher who can replace soon-to-be free agent Zach Ertz as [the quarterback’s] safety valve in the passing attack.”
The 35-year-old Ertz tore his ACL in 2025 and likely won’t return to the capital. Youngster Ben Sinnott hasn’t taken the next step, posting a meager 16 catches for 142 yards over two seasons. Adding a proven commodity like Smith gives the Commanders instant credibility over the middle of the field.
“I had to make the decision to say ‘Man, well I’ve got to go where I am appreciated and viewed on paper, economically, contract-wise as a top guy in this league, which I know I am.’ You always want to be where you’re most valued and appreciated.”
— Jonnu Smith, speaking on his NFL journey and contract expectations
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Pittsburgh currently holds 10 draft picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Khan doesn’t need more late-round lottery tickets; he needs immediate impact players. Unless Washington packages a mid-round pick or a rotational piece in the deal, the Steelers might hesitate. However, clearing $7 million off the books allows McCarthy to aggressively target top-tier free agent wide receivers like Michael Pittman Jr., or retain speedy in-house options like Calvin Austin III to fix a broken passing attack.
If the Commanders finalize this trade, they immediately stabilize their offense, providing a reliable safety blanket on crucial third downs. For Pittsburgh, moving Smith closes the book on a costly 2025 gamble and provides the financial flexibility necessary to execute McCarthy’s new vision.
