NY Jets: Jonnu Smith would be a smart free-agent target

The NY Jets should use their cap space wisely and try to acquire tight end Jonnu Smith. Smith is a special talent but has often gone unrecognized in terms of top tight ends in the NFL. He surprised many experts, scoring eight receiving touchdowns a year ago.

He even surpassed names like Zach Ertz, Evan Engram, Noah Fant, and Hayden Hurst in that category, who were all projected to have better campaigns.

Although it’s sometimes scary to acquire a player after they have a career year, it’s different with Smith. At only 25-years-old, the four-year NFL veteran has a lot to offer.

Tight ends are becoming one of the most important positions in football and can be a huge reason for team success. Just ask the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs, who faced each other in the Super Bowl.

Travis Kelce and Rob Gronkowski are No. 1 and No. 2 in terms of tight ends over the past decade and have been instrumental in winning. Gronkowski scored two touchdowns in the Super Bowl and can catch any ball thrown to him.

Kelce’s speed and catching ability also make him a threat to defenders because, any time he has one-on-one coverage against a cornerback, the defense is doomed.

Jonnu Smith would be a great fit for the NY Jets

The Jets need help everywhere, but they especially need to acquire someone who can score touchdowns and someone who can protect the quarterback.

Funny enough, Smith can help in both of those categories.

Known as one of the better blocking tight ends in football, Smith isn’t a one-trick pony. He’s not a player that you need to worry about when protecting the quarterback or running the football.

Smith was a huge part of the Tennessee Titans running attack that featured rushing leader Derrick Henry. Obviously Henry would be able to run with any offensive line in front of him, but Smith’s blocking ability made it tough for defenders whenever he was on the field.

For example, a blocking tight end is very important because it’s essentially an extra offensive lineman, but having a blocking tight end that has hands like Smith is hard to come by.

Since Smith never needs to come out of the game whether it’s a pass or a run, it makes it harder for defenders to know what play’s coming.

For example, Smith is a perfect addition to an offense that runs a lot of play-action and the Jets just hired an offensive coordinator who will be doing that frequently.

Mike LaFleur is expected to utilize a Kyle Shanahan-inspired offense in New York and one of the things he loves to do is call play-action.

If Smith is smart, he would look very closely at the offensive gameplan before joining an NFL roster because he’ll be able to maximize his capabilities in a heavy play-action system.

Not only would Smith be a crucial part of the Jets’ offense but the team has a ton of cap space to sign him. He’d most likely be able to get the most money to play in New York and would be a great fit.

Hopefully Joe Douglas and the Jets understand what Jonnu Smith can bring to their offense and convince him to sign with the Jets because he’d be a very smart signing.