Over the last three seasons, no NFL tight end has more yards after catch than Jonnu Smith.

Smith just chose Miami on a very reasonable contract.

Over the last six seasons, no NFL tight end has more touches of 20 miles per hour or more than Jonnu Smith.

Yep, as we told you, Smith just chose Miami on a very reasonable contract.

"Let’s get to it fam!" Jonnu Smith posted on X, in reply to new teammate Tyreek Hill.

Smith is 28. He has plenty left in the tank.

Smith has pedigree, as a former third-round draft choice.

And yet Smith is coming to Miami on a two-year deal worth about $8.2 million. It could bring him $10 million with incentives.

This is a very reasonable contract. This puts him in the low-20-somethings among highest-paid tight ends in the league. It's a tick above what Miami's Durham Smythe makes.

Miami Dolphins don't have a lot of money to spend

This is the type of contract Dolphins general manager Chris Grier must duplicate in the coming weeks, at many other positions.

Grier did a good job hitting on seven of 10 first-and second-round draft picks in a three-year window of the rebuild from 2019-2021.

That's the easier - not necessarily easy - part.

Kudos to Grier for hitting on Christian Wilkins, Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips and Jevon Holland.

Noah Igbinoghene was a bust. Raekwon Davis was not close to as dominant as hoped. And Liam Eichenberg may become a solid backup or even starter. But he's not lived up to expectations from the draft.

Now for the worse news.

Miami tore its organization down to the studs and this wave of talent has resulted in a grand total of zero playoff wins.

And due to salary cap restraints, it sure appears Wilkins and Hunt are about to walk out that door. What a shame. Those are exactly the types of players Miami needs to keep around.

They're big. They're physical. They're tough. They're motivated.

Ugh. No playoff wins - 24 years and counting - and now some of the best members of the last wave will go their own way.

And so Grier must pivot.

Grier must very well be challenged to sign players at center, left guard, right guard, edge rusher, linebacker and safety - is that all? - at, as we say, very reasonable contracts.

What Grier will try to do is hit on players at a cost of say, Zach Sieler, who can produce - and has produced - as a level similar to, say, Wilkins.

Easier said than done.

But this is where Miami's pro scouting staff is paid to deliver.

It's also where coaches are asked to scour the film and identify free-agent players who have been perhaps a bit underutilized but could flourish in a specific role they have in mind.

NFL Free Agents: Mike McDaniel knows how to scour

Coach Mike McDaniel has a lengthy history of identifying cost-effective solutions, especially at running back and wide receiver.

Incoming defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and also rightly-praised offensive line coach Butch Barry and offensive coordinator Frank Smith must be scouring film to see if any free agent - or draft selection - can capably fill the voids of Robert Hunt, Connor Williams, Jerome Baker and Xavien Howard.

We'll see.

But Jonnu Smith is the model. This is where it's at for Miami, now.

Smith, from Ocala, wanted to be here. No reason to think many others won't, too.

Great weather. Great facilities. Coaches with good reputations. No state income tax.

Either way, Miami plans to extend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and in the not-too-distant-future Jevon Holland and Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, too.

NFL Free Agency: Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt appear gone

Miami will want to be as proactive as possible, so these cornerstone players don't swim away like Wilkins and Hunt appear poised to do.

The Dolphins didn't have a single touchdown catch from a tight end last season, which is sort of hard to do, even if you're not trying.

Hence, the addition of Smith, who lines up everywhere (inline 273 snaps, slot 269 snaps, wide 80 snaps, backfield 29 snaps).

Smith is a competent blocker. He's a competent catcher. He's a competent player.

And for the Dolphins, he comes in at the right price.

Now Grier must duplicate this signing at, well, a lot of other positions.

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: In NFL free agency 2024 Miami Dolphins must hit on smart, low-cost players