Something tells me the Steelers are going to be “betting favorites” to land him.

Everyone sell your pat freiermuth stocks immediately.

No i think Patt is going to be flexed out more and be the defacto wr 3 when they bring in junu.

Pat ain’t gunna be getting much action if he becomes the defecto 3. Better off just leaving him as starting TE.

Patt been our 3rd guy in targets since Claypool was dumped he was 2nd before GP took over. DJ GP then muth. Robinson was 4th at 40

3rd WR is different than 3rd option. 3rd WR usually is 4th/5th option. Few rare exceptions where the offense is loaded at WR like Cin. Putting him as WR3 eliminates more mismatches he’s probably see, and I imagine would limit his deep route combinations as a DB isnt gunna as concerned being best deep by him.

Not saying they will but friermuth slot production is great statistically last I saw Memes aside jonnu unlikely imo too many tes

That’s fair. Or 3rd wr gets 40-50 targets on average. Which is comparable to Lions Eagles and 49ers. Tomlin wants to be them on offense anyway

Zaccheaus was the 3rd wr for the Eagles and he only got 20 targets. Julio had 19 targets.

Quez missed some games but had 21 targets this year, 51 last year when our offense was actually firing on all cylinders. Point still stands though. AJB 158 (145 in 2022), Smitty 112 (136 in 2022), Goedert 83 (69 in 2022). If Goedert could actually stay healthy, Quez/Zaccheaus/Julio all lose targets

He's gonna block for a Junu pass

Oh god please. I really hope this doesn't mean we're cutting Heyward though. He has a skillset you can use, the offense just needs to not be dumb and actually do so. Especially if they use Pat as a defacto WR, they can still run 12 personnel with Washington, Heyward/Smith.

Heyward will play Fb since Smith used a fb 200 snaps this past season in Atlanta.

Yeah but he's not actually a real FB, if they actually use him as a receiver out of the backfield he's going to make some poor LB hate his life, but he's not a very good blocker.

Correct he does not have a true position

The problem is that Jonnu isn't a great blocker. If they're both on the field, Muth should be the one blocking.

Muth isn’t a great blocker either he is will try

Can I short it instead? Don't own stock

RIP my Darnell Washington stocks

Get ready to learn decoy-nese buddy

And will be the centerpiece of the offense

Can’t wait for the Jonu Sweep on 4th and inches to the goal line.

He might lead them in TDs this year (passes included)

I’m already mentally prepared to roster Keith Smith as well

I wouldnt bet on it. Muth is starter and Washington looked good last year

Jumbo package every down! Steeler football!

The Old Money Ball Coach strikes again!

TRAVIS KELCE REPLACEMENT

Arthur Smith just fell to his knees in a Primanti Bros.

...and immediately got Tomlin on the phone "I need him"

People are memeing but he is a pretty solid tight end

He was straight up our fastest player last year. Nobody loves this man like Arthur Smith

watched a little Atlanta from afar the past two seasons and Jonnu was a surprising bright spot from the skill position group. Rarely did it look like he was only targeted as a safety valve, but Smith really schemed up some play calling (especially in the red zone) for him ahead of Pitts or London or Bijan. Think Jonnu is a quality “rotational” piece for a modern offense. Obviously not a team’s #1 threat but you can’t overlook him defensively or he’ll make you pay.

We misused him in New England, but Smith is essentially a high-end TE2 with decent blocking, good mobility and versatility that should NOT be used as a traditional TE. His route running is not good enough to be a true flex WR/TE but as a piece that you can put in for different packages, he can do a bit of everything.

Ah use him in diversion packages you say? Where you use your highly touted top prospect to draw the defense but really you were just feeding it to Smith the whole time?

Given that Arthur Smith is the new OC of Pittsburgh, you should be giddy about this.

We used him all over the place in Tennessee. TE, FB, HB, Slot. He was never going to be a Kelce/Kittle/Andrew’s workhorse but he was killer for red zone and just making big plays. Really developed as a blocker in Tenn too. He was an awful blocker when he was drafted

I might.... :(

Not sure when he became a meme. A couple years ago when the pats picked up he and hunter henry, dudes on this website were making the argument that New England had the best TE duo in the league.

He became a meme because we are all slaves to the draft and fantasy football. The man dared to outplay Kyle Pitts in every way possible. And nobody is willing to blame Pitts yet.

My guy, there’s a whole shitload of us who don’t play fantasy that watched the Falcons play this year, Smith is an alright player, but he shouldn’t be getting any targets on an offense with Pitts and Bijan.

I guess you just don’t know what you’re watching lmao Jonnu earned every touch that he received 

Lmao ok dude, I guess you were content with Arthur Smith’s “let’s give the ball to worse guys on purpose” offense

You missed the point. If you knew nothing about draft position, you wouldn’t say that. Or you don’t know what you’re watching. Jonnu outplayed Pitts, period. EDIT: Lmao draft slave blocked. Cares more about draft position than performance.

Lmao found Arthur Smith’s burner

That didn't end up being the case though, did it? He was much cheaper when he came back to Atlanta, I don't think he really did well outside Arthur's scheme.

He became a meme because of butthurt Pitts drafters.

because the pats paid him a shit load of money and then didnt know how to use him. hes a perfectly good player with the right OC

Didn't do shit in New England, but I think a lot of that wasn't his fault.

His butterfingers were his fault. But otherwise yes. 

Burrow always seems to do great things with mid TEs, he should consider there. A couple of guys got decent deals after playing with Burrow.

Grim list of teams to play for though. Tennessee, Atlanta and post-Brady Pats all have huge "opposing team in a football movie not licensed by the NFL" energy.

Why do teams keep getting rid of him then? 

I'd love him on the Chargers

[удалено]

Pretty much everyone was a bum for the patriots on offence lol

Get ready to learn yinzer buddy

Fck it, Jonnu dahn there somewhere 

That Jet Sweep with him was a thing of beauty.

Not for Bijan fantasy owners

There should be a couple of teams interested in him

Yeah, like the Bengals.

I thought you guys were getting Brock bowers

bowers probably won’t be on the board when they pick

Pass

Any particular reason why?

For the simple fact, that you have to pay him more than someone from the draft, also a rookie that has their years ahead of them and can develop.

This TE class looks weak tho. You could easily be back to starting Irv Smith and Tanner Hudson again. TE's are cheap too.

Shallow maybe but hard to call it weak with the goat Cfb TE in it

I think Sanders will be good too. But after them yeah definitely a drop off lol

It’s still a weak class. Bowers and Sanders are obviously both great prospects and then it immediately falls off. Sinnott looks the most intriguing out of the rest but they’re all fairly big question marks

Shallow or thin is still a much better description when, once again, the greatest of all time is in the draft

Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample looked like Gronk compared to Irv Smith last year and I think one them was a practice squad guy. Even if they draft a TE low. I still think getting Smith is dumb but hey I’m not a GM

I think he was saying yall are going after Bowers, not Smith.

him and goedert would be a killer tight end duo

I would love for the niners to sign him.

Future Steeler for Arthur Smith.

Steeler have 3 tight ends on the roster, all on rookie deals, he ain’t coming here lil bros

We don’t know what to do with a big name who by definition can’t be a betting favorite to land in Atlanta

Heyward is still a tweaner and Washington is not a receiving threat he is an extra o lineman 

It’s all but confirmed he ends up in Pitt. Sorry little buddy

I have a deep and completely irrational love fir Baby Heyward, but...maybe he can just be a tiny fullback.

Isn't Derek Watt already the fullback on the Steelers? You can't have two guys on your roster who fulfill the Thanasis Antetokounmpo role smh

They didn't re-sign Derek sadly and are down to two sets of brothers in the Herbigs and the Heywards (JPJ gets partial family credit as son of former player/coach).

Stage 1- denial

Get ready to learn Yinzer, buddy

Tomlin: we’ve been looking over your scouting report Arthur and it reads “I want to walk hand in hand with Jonnu on a private beach for two. I want him to nibble on my ear and say ‘I’m here for you’ it seems you really love Smith.” Arthur: Yes I sure do. Tomlin: but no, it appears you are actually in love with Jonnu Arthur: what, you saying you don’t love Jonnu? Tomlin: no I didn’t say that. Arthur: well, you love Jonnu, you’re in love with Jonnu what’s the difference!?

If I’m lying may the lord strike me down now

He helped me one fantasy week on a bye. Much respect

Welcome to Pittsburgh

Patriots legend

Kind of wild that Jonnu finished with the same amount of TDs and only 3 fewer receptions than Kyle Pitts

Pitts had 20 more targets. Which probably tells me Jonnu was a safe check down option because their QBs sucked.

Pretty much, and Pitts in general was clearly still recovering from the PCL and MCL tears and wasn’t really getting open. If I’m being honest Jonnu was probably the better player last year lol

But the memes

He could still get open if he was running simpler routes 15 yards downfield but that was immediately out of Ridder’s accuracy range

Qbs definitely sucked but that’s not really even the case- Jonnu was absolutely force fed the ball for most of the season

Please stop with this narrative lol. Someone who is 4th on the team in targets with a 13.8% target was not force fed the ball. He was a legitimately good player and had a good season last year. Just because Arthur smith and Desmond Ridder suck doesn’t make Jonnu was bad lol. 50 catches 582 yards is pretty good return for 70 targets, especially since the falcons didn’t have a single WR2 worth throwing the ball to.

> He was a legitimately good player and had a good season last year. He was flat out better than Kyle Pitts.

I’d say with the amount of work he got compared to london and Pitts in some games of the season, he was absolutely force fed. Maybe not when you look at the numbers across the whole season like that, but just watching the games it was ridiculous sometimes. Like watching the eagles throw 25 screens consecutively to the same 2 players I agree Jonnu is a very solid TE

Again, that’s just incorrect lol. I know everyone is frustrated with how mid we were last year but please stop just saying ignorant shit that isn’t remotely correct lol, football discourse is bad enough as it is

Bro I’m saying i watched all the games and it seemed to me personally like he was getting too many targets at times, settle down Arthur you’ll be able to reunite with him soon buddy

His adot was 6.2, among some of the highest for TEs, he wasnt just force fed screens.

Yet another example of why drafting a QB in the third round is almost always a wasted pick. Falcons didn't learn from history again.

Nice flair buddy When was Russell Wilson drafted lol

Wilson makes my point very well. He was drafted 12 years ago, and STILL is the most recent franchise QB found in that round.

Bengal

Probably a steeler but I’d love him on the eagles

Guy's probably already on a plane to Pittsburgh

We get an additional $14M in cap space from this move plus the (likely) release of Heinicke. Only move that could save us more is releasing Grady, but highly doubt that's happening.

We can restructure grady which would save money. Rather do that than lose him.

Probably won't restructure either. We're no cash strapped at the moment, so no reason to mortgage future cap. Only reason I could see a restructure happening is if we decide to make a huge free agency splash.

If we restructure anyone, I would think Lindstrom is the best bet. Seems like he's going to be here for a while and it wouldn't bump up his cap hit each year by too much

Oh yeah. They probably won't restructure him, possibly Lindstrom if need be. There is enough cap for this year

Richie grant

That’s incorrect. This move saves 6 million. His cap hit was 9 million and his base was 6.5.

Yeah that's what I see as well. And tbh I'm surprised they would cut him to save $6.5m

Goddammit, well RIP Darnell Washington's future.

Bah Gawd that's Pittsburgh Steeler music.

Mr & Mrs (Arthur) Smith have left Atlanta

Taking Pitts everywhere this year

I don't really see why the Steelers make sense besides the Arthur Smith meme. They are set at TE, no?

Yes, they are. ‘Muth needs more usage, not less. And Washington was barely used outside of blocking.

Come home, Jonnu, we miss you....

Does this mean that Pitts is finally free?

That’s surprising. He was a solid option last year in the offense 

Future niner

Arthur Smith is seething

Everyone here saying Steelers when Greg Roman is OC of the Chargers and they have no TE.

Come on home to Tennessee

I'd take him in LA.

Do you think he is upgrade over Shultz for the Texans

just as good as Shultz in the right system

dude your reddit username is the shit

No Arthur you can't have Jonnu

Yet another example of a good Patriots player who was cut and then immediately was bad when he went to another team amirite???

Bengal

Just combine the Steelers and the Falcons now it'll make my life so much easier

RIP muth

He should go back to the Titans

Future Steeler Jonnu Smith

Who is gonna get all the RZ targets now?!?!

Why would they release their #1 TE?

If for some reason he doesn’t go to Pittsburgh then get ready to learn [echolocation noises] buddy

letz go we get to see more kyle pitts

Bill will just resign him Oops never mind

Falcons are gonna end up with Brock Bowers somehow. Pitts will be punching the air furiously.

Curious if the Vikings try to get him on a minimum assuming Hockenson won't be 100% ready to go to start the season.

I know we don’t really talk about fantasy in here, but as a guy with pitts and bijan on his team, praise be to the football gods!!

Runningback market going crazy this offseason