Former Dolphins Pro Bowl Player Being Released Ahead of NFL Free Agency

Despite the Miami Dolphins finishing below .500 in the previous two seasons and firing their general manager and head coach after a disappointing 2025 season, the team did make some positive decisions ahead of the 2024 season.

With the team having limited resources for contracts after they re-signed Jalen Ramsey, Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa, the team still managed to find players they believed would fit their team at the right price. That led to the Dolphins signing linebacker Jordyn Brooks, center Aaron Brewer, defensive lineman Calais Campbell and tight end Jonnu Smith. 

While Brooks and Brewer signed multi-year deals and became building blocks for the franchise as they were both selected to All-Pro teams in the 2025 season, Campbell and Smith went elsewhere after the 2024 season, despite excelling with Miami. Campbell finished the year as Miami’s only player to be named among ESPN’s 100 most valuable players in the 2024 season.

Meanwhile, Smith had a career-best season as he set a career-high in receptions and receiving yards while setting franchise records for a Dolphins tight end. That resulted in Smith earning his first Pro Bowl selection. However, after the season, he sought an extension, which Miami was unwilling to give him and he was then traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, Smith will once again be on the open market.

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Steelers Releasing Former Miami Dolphins Tight End

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Steelers were planning on releasing Jonnu Smith in a move that would save the Steelers $7 million in cap space. Despite reuniting with former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Jonnu Smith’s numbers declined with the Steelers as he had only 38 receptions and 222 receiving yards. He did score his lone rushing touchdown of the season when he faced off against the Miami Dolphins in their Week 15 matchup.

Regarding a potential return to the Dolphins, Sports Illustrated’s Alain Poupart said, “Smith now becomes a free agent, but the idea of a return to Miami, where he played his college ball (Florida International) doesn’t seem terribly likely given his age (30) and where the Dolphins are as an organization.”

Additionally, Poupart downplayed Smith’s contributions to the Dolphins in 2024 as he wrote, “The numbers were more the result of Smith being the beneficiary of an offense that couldn’t throw downfield very well and therefore went looking for the short completions.”

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Miami Dolphins Tight Ends

Despite a reunion seeming unlikely, the Dolphins do have a weakness at the tight end position. Their top two tight ends during the 2025 season were Darren Waller and Greg Dulcich. General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan already revealed that the team was unlikely to re-sign Waller.

The Dolphins could opt to re-sign Dulcich, who impressed down the stretch and showcased some good chemistry with quarterback Quinn Ewers. However, a new contract would likely have a pay raise for Dulcich. 

The Athletic’s Daniel Popper projected Dulcich to sign a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency.  He wrote, “Dulcich was waived by the Giants on cutdown day. He signed with the Dolphins’ practice squad and was activated in Week 8. Among tight ends with at least 100 routes, he finished second in yards per route behind only the Bills’ Dalton Kincaid. Dulcich has vertical speed and is aggressive and physical after the catch, particularly on screens.”

Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer