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Jonnu Smith had an uneventful first stint with the New England Patriots, but he could earn a second opportunity with the club in the coming weeks. A third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Florida International product first made a name for himself with the Tennessee Titans and signed a massive contract with New England after playing out his rookie contract. Unfortunately, he couldn’t justify this investment, as he lasted just two seasons with the team and recorded just 55 receptions for 539 yards and one touchdown during those campaigns. However, a change of scenery brought out the best in Jonnu Smith. The tight end had a strong season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and made it to the Pro Bowl with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. Appearing in all 17 games, Smith finished the season with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns on 111 targets. Miami traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2025 season, but he couldn’t do much of anything with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now a free agent, Jonnu Smith has yet to find a new home. While he is coming off an underwhelming campaign and is now entering his age-31 season, he’s only one year removed from being a productive player. Some team should roll the dice on him, and Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers could pursue him. “While the 31-year-old is unlikely to replicate his 2024 production (884 yards, 8 TDs), he’d be a terrific insurance policy for a pass-heavy team with injury concerns at the tight end position,” Knox writes. “The 49ers could partner Smith with Jake Tonges as George Kittle continues to work his way back from a torn Achilles. The Lions could use a pass-catching move tight end behind Sam LaPorta, who is dealing with a hip injury.” Jonnu Smith News: Lions, 49ers Linked to Veteran TE Sadly for Jonnu Smith, the veteran tight end isn’t much more than an injury fill-in at this stage in his career. The 2024 season was likely an outlier, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a helpful part of a team. As mentioned above, the San Francisco 49ers are already battling injury woes, as Kittle and wide receivers Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall are battling injuries of various severity. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the best in the game, but somebody needs to go out there and catch passes for quarterback Brock Purdy. If Kittle and Evans don’t return to health, Smith could be a fine short-term option. The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, are hoping to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 2025. Quarterback Jared Goff is not the type of quarterback who can elevate a flawed roster, but he can make the most of the pieces around him. Jonnu Smith is no Sam LaPorta, but he can be a decent fill-in while the former second-round pick works his way back from injury. The NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in footbal, and adding someone like Smith to the mix could be the difference in a few tight contests. Main Photo: Scott Galvin – Imagn Images