Steelers target doesn't actually want to come to Pittsburgh, says Ian Rapoport

Billy Heyen

Steelers target doesn't actually want to come to Pittsburgh, says Ian Rapoport image

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to look for offensive help this offseason.

It's not just Aaron Rodgers they're seeking, either.

Last week, the Steelers were linked to trade negotiations for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith. 

One problem: Smith doesn't want to be in Pittsburgh, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"Jonnu Smith is actually a part of what the Dolphins wanna do," Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday. "Feels to me like he wants more money and would like to stay. I know he wants a lot. We'll see what they end up doing."

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It felt like a bit of an odd fit from the outside, given that the Steelers have Pat Freiermuth at tight end already. Smith is a more versatile player, capable of lining up all over the formation, so it could've worked.

The Dolphins also don't have anything resembling a replacement for Smith on their roster. 

Smith's viewpoint might depend a bit on whether the Steelers actually end up with Aaron Rodgers. Because if the choice is catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa or Mason Rudolph, that seems pretty straightforward.

Regardless, Rapoport seems to have poured cold water on this trade rumor. It might take some unexpected shifts to make anything happen here at this point.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle