Jonnu Smith is back on the market, and one of the league’s most aggressive fit arguments points to Carolina. analyst Matt Bowen named the Panthers the best landing spot for the former Dolphins tight end, while Miami prepares to gain salary cap room after June 1 from Bradley Chubb’s post-June 1 release designation.

The timing matters because the Dolphins are also expected to use some of that cap space on De’Von Achane’s agreed-upon four-year extension, which is not yet official. That leaves Miami with money to spend, but not necessarily a clean path back to Smith, who remains an NFL free agent after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him.

Bowen’s case for Carolina starts with usage. He said Smith would give the Panthers a move, or “F,” tight end who can create schematic advantages because of his alignment versatility. Bowen also wrote that Smith can flex outside in 12 personnel while getting targets on unders and screens, and that he can be a reliable catch-and-run option for quarterback Bryce Young.

The fit is rooted in what Smith actually produced last season. He had 38 receptions in Pittsburgh during the 2025 season, and 68.4% of his career receiving totals have come after the catch. That kind of profile makes him more than a blocker or a red-zone name; he is a player who can turn short throws into extra yards, which is exactly the sort of weapon Bowen believes Carolina could use.

The Panthers also have recent evidence that the formula can work in their favor. They made the playoffs last season after winning the NFC South with a losing record, then came close to pulling off a Wild Card upset against the Los Angeles Rams. That run did not erase Carolina’s flaws, but it showed the team could survive in a limited margin environment if Bryce Young gets enough support around him.

Miami, meanwhile, may have already made its own choice at tight end. The Dolphins appear to be believers in Greg Dulcich, one of Smith’s replacements in 2025, and that belief has only grown since Darren Waller went down with an injury. Dulcich became Miami’s primary receiving threat out of the tight end position and topped 40 receiving yards in four of the last five games of the season.

That back end of the season is part of why new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan decided to re-sign Dulcich in free agency instead of pursuing Smith. Sullivan said, “I thought he had a really good back end of the season, and I want to see if he can build on that.”

The Dolphins therefore enter the summer with a cap opening, a pending Achane deal and a tight end room they already seem comfortable backing. Smith’s Miami history still hangs over the story — he is a former Dolphins Pro Bowl tight end — but the club’s current direction suggests it is looking inward rather than reopening the door for a reunion.

For Carolina, the opportunity is simpler. The Panthers need more playmaking, and Smith offers a known role with a defined skill set. For Miami, the bigger question is not whether there will be room after June 1. It is whether the team wants to use that room on someone who already had a path there, or keep building around the players it has already chosen.