Outside team HQ, Miami Dolphins doubters are everywhere.
There’s a big chunk of the fan base and media who think the Dolphins lost too much talent to compete for the NFL‘s biggest prize in 2023.
On the inside, the view is far different. Just ask tight end Jonnu Smith.
New Miami Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith Opens Up
Smith this week signed a two-year, $8.4 million contract with the Dolphins that could be worth as much as $10 million if he hits all of his incentives.
That’s a very reasonable, and some might even argue generous, price for the Dolphins, who need to hit on free agents with a moderate cost due to their cap constraints.
So why did Smith — who set career highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (582) in 2023 — sign on for what seems to be a team-friendly deal so early in free agency?
“The opportunity to go and win a world championship,” Smith told reporters via Zoom Wednesday. “Adding me to this offense and to the system and to this team ultimately, that could be a solution to helping us get to where we wanna go.
“There’s obviously still a lot of work that needs to be put in, obviously. Still a lot in front of us. But I just saw that vision and I thought it was a great opportunity.”
The team culture was a factor too. And while many on the inside hated it at the time, the Dolphins opening their doors to NFL Films the second half of last season ended up helping seal the deal with Smith.
“Hard Knocks taught me a lot,” Smith said. “Hard Knocks was a big help in helping me make my decision.”
Smith said he missed the NFL’s reality TV show’s Dolphins season when it first aired back in the fall.
But he decided to give it a watch this offseason, and “kind of just caught myself binge watching.”
His reaction?
“That would be a special group to be a part of,” Smith said. “All of these guys — Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier, everybody in the front office, collectively made it happen.”
Smith knows that doesn’t have to do more than what’s asked of him this year, and given that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be on the outside, the Dolphins won’t ask of Smith anything that he can’t handle.
The opportunity to play with them, Smith said, has him “smiling from ear to ear.”
He also is thrilled to have a chance to play with Tua Tagovailoa, whom Smith called “one of the top quarterbacks in this league.”
KEEP READING: Best Available Free Agents
“I think he’s one of, if not the most, accurate quarterbacks in this league,” Smith added. “And that’s just for me watching from the outside. Now I’m actually here, I’m sure I get to see that firsthand. He’s a great player, a great leader, had a lot of respect for his game since he played at Alabama. Just seeing him play, he was always a fun guy to watch play and I’m excited to catch the passes from him now.”
Every move. Every team. Don’t miss a thing with PFN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker.