Who Should I Start? Jonnu Smith or Isaiah Likely

Monday, June 30, 11:16 AM

The Miami Dolphins are trading Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a late-round pick swap, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 29-year-old had the best season of his career in 2024, posting 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games. This move reunites him with Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who worked with the tight end in Tennessee and Atlanta for a total of five seasons. The Steelers were hurting for weapons behind the recently acquired DK Metcalf, so Smith should be viewed as the clear No. 2 option in the passing attack led by Aaron Rodgers. Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson, and Calvin Austin III are minor losers of this trade and will have a tougher time commanding targets in 2025. As for Miami, De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle now have less target competition. Julian Hill figures to enter the TE1 role for now.

Friday, May 30, 12:49 PM

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has high hopes for rising tight end Isaiah Likely as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025. "I want to see [Likely] be an All-Pro," Harbaugh said . "That'd be my goal for him, and he's capable of it." The former fourth-rounder in 2022 has been the backup to Mark Andrews for much of his career, but that could be changing in 2025. Likely caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in the season opener a year ago, but he didn't have another 100-yard game the rest of the year. He ended the season with 42 catches, 477 yards and six touchdowns. In 49 total games with Baltimore, including 19 starts, Likely has 108 catches for 1,261 yards and 14 TDs. In 10 games that Andrews has missed due to injuries the last three years, he had 530 yards and seven TDs. If Andrews misses any more time in 2025, Likely will be a must-start TE1 on a weekly basis.