The trade involving Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith set off a series of significant roster moves during the 2024 offseason. Miami’s decision to allow Smith to pursue a trade instead of playing the final year of his contract opened the door for a deal with the Steelers, which ultimately helped the Dolphins facilitate the trade of cornerback Jalen Ramsey. According to Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, the transaction involving Smith was crucial in making the Minkah Fitzpatrick-Ramsey exchange possible.
“I don’t know that the [Minkah/Ramsey] trade would have happened without Jonnu a part of it.”
—Drew Rosenhaus, Agent
Darren Waller’s Unexpected Return to Miami Fueled by the Trade Climate
The whirlwind of trades also influenced former Dolphins tight end Darren Waller to come out of retirement and rejoin the team. Rosenhaus shared that Waller reached out five days before the deal to express his renewed passion for football and his desire to return to Miami.
“Drew, I’ve decided I want to play again. I miss football… Love of the game is back, and I want to play for the Dolphins.”
—Darren Waller, Former Dolphins TE
Braelon Allen’s Growth Ahead of Second NFL Campaign
Meanwhile, running back Braelon Allen is preparing for his sophomore season after Miami drafted him in the fourth round in 2024. Allen emphasized the confidence head coach Aaron Glenn showed in him during their initial meeting, which has motivated him to maximize his role on the field. He is committed to contributing both on offense and special teams.
“The first meeting I had with him, he said I trust you and I believe in you,”
Allen said.
“He said he was impressed with what he saw last year, and I think that’s all that I need to hear. As long as they know what I can do, I know those opportunities are going to come and it’s on me to make the most of them.”
—Braelon Allen, RB
“I think I just want to make my impact felt in every way that I can,”
Allen added.
“Obviously playing special teams, hopefully the dose of offense increases more and more, and I just try to do my part the best I can.”
—Braelon Allen, RB
Running Back Talent Impresses Dolphins Leadership
Coach Aaron Glenn praised the physicality and speed of Allen and his fellow running back Breece Hall during the team’s camp. Glenn highlighted their powerful running style and ability to break into open field speed, signaling high expectations for their future contributions.
“The first thing they’re big, physical, men, and even though this is not a physical camp, you just see the way they run,”
Glenn stated.
“All of them have low pad level. Breece and Braelon, man, they can really, really run. I’m not just talking about just as a runner, but as far as speed down the field, you see that with them, and I’m excited about all three of those guys, I really am. I don’t know if there are three backs in this League that have the potential like these three, and maybe there is, but I know I’m just focusing on what we have, and I’m excited about the guys that we have here.”
—Aaron Glenn, Head Coach
Patriots Bolster Coaching and Analytics Department
On the coaching front, the New England Patriots made important additions to their staff by hiring Ekene Olekanma as Director of Coaching Analytics. Olekanma previously worked with the San Francisco 49ers as their Football Research and Development Coordinator. Head coach Mike Vrabel spoke about the team’s strategy to expand the analytics department under Olekanma’s leadership to enhance game preparation and efficiency.
“We’ll add a couple other people there,”
Vrabel said.
“I think that just having somebody that’s dedicated, that’s been in that role, that can manage the people that we have here. He did a fantastic job in his interview process and meeting with all the different groups that we feel like he’s going to be able to work with. He played football. Not that that’s a prerequisite, but you have to have the ability to not only take these numbers and pull them out of wherever they pull them out of. I’m not going to pretend that I know, but also have some application to it and be able to explain it to the coaches and say, ‘How much is too much, probably need more.’ However we can make our jobs more efficient and better is something that I’m excited about. We’re all excited about him.”
—Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
Special Assistant Role to Support Patriots’ Game Preparation
The Patriots also added John Streicher as a special assistant to the head coach to assist with game planning and strategic analysis. Vrabel detailed how Streicher will contribute alongside him and Stretch, another assistant, by focusing on opponent scouting, self-scouting, and tactical decisions considering various game-day factors.
“Yeah, that’ll be Stretch [John Streicher] and I. That’s a pretty proven system, but I would say that he would be involved. That would be one area that he would help us, help me and Stretch specifically outside of the game planning, the self-scout, the opponent’s pre-advanced report or anything that they may do. We’d carve out some time for him, me and Stretch based on who we’re playing, how aggressive we need to be, what are the field conditions, what are the wind, what are the game conditions. That would all be part of what he would do, but I would imagine that the communication would still stay between Stretch and I. Not that he wouldn’t communicate with him throughout the game.”
—Mike Vrabel, Patriots Head Coach
Significance of the Trade and Organizational Changes
The Jonnu Smith trade cascaded into a set of transformative moves for the Dolphins, directly influencing the return of Darren Waller and the reshaping of Miami’s roster. Meanwhile, fresh talent like Braelon Allen shows promise of stepping up to meet team expectations under newly confident leadership. Additionally, the Patriots’ hires demonstrate the growing importance of analytics and detailed coaching support in the NFL’s competitive landscape. These developments highlight how a single trade can spark far-reaching adjustments both on the field and within team operations, setting the stage for a dynamic season ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where did Jonnu Smith go?
A. On the final day of June, the Miami Dolphins executed a significant trade. They sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, receiving safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in exchange.
Q. Why did the Falcons cut Jonnu Smith?
A. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons decided to release Smith, saving $6.5 million toward the salary cap, as per OverTheCap.com. Smith joined the team for one season after the Falcons traded with the New England Patriots on March 15, 2023.