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Tennessee Titans sleeper star Jonnu Smith praised by NFL executives

By Will Lomas

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Jonnu Smith #81 of the Tennessee Titans catches a touchdown over Brandon Carr #39 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Jonnu Smith #81 of the Tennessee Titans catches a touchdown over Brandon Carr #39 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Watch Titans sleeper Jonnu Smith.

Rarely is someone considered a sleeper by the national media and fans of the team, but that is exactly what is happening with Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith.

It is easy to forget Jonnu Smith when you talk about the emerging weapons that the Tennessee Titans have on offense.

National media tends to repeat how much they love the guys who have proven themselves like A.J. Brown and Derrick Henry, and honestly who can blame them?

Beyond those two names, fans are quick to bring up how Corey Davis could be pushed into a breakthrough year as the WR2 in his contract season. Then the next player to get attention is Adam Humphries whose injury kept him from really getting the full effect of the offensive renaissance that happened once Ryan Tannehill took over.

Jonnu Smith has to wait until you get to the Kalif Raymond/Darrynton Evans part of the roster, and that really isn’t fair to someone who took a massive step forward from 2018 to 2019.

ESPN talked to several NFL executives and they agreed that Jonnu Smith should be getting a lot more attention:

"“The league’s most intriguing tight end by a wide margin, Smith was 26th in receptions for his position (35) but among the best in creativity.The high-level athlete lined up in at least six different positions last year, coaches say, looking fluid on toss running back plays and flexed-out packages. His game started to take off once Delanie Walker left the lineup with an ankle injury……So well-rounded. He’s top five for me. He’s an every-down player,” an NFC exec said. “He can play you 1,000 snaps at about six different positions. Has some work to do as a route runner, but he’ll get there.”"

More from Titan Sized

The Titans are finally a team with so many weapons that they have genuine sleepers as pass catchers. Being a tight end in this offense is going to get better and better as Ryan Tannehill and OC Arthur Smith grow and evolve as play-callers.

In a league that thrives on offenses finding mismatches, having a versatile athlete like Jonnu Smith line up at six different positions is the perfect example of that trend.

10 years ago he would have been a tweener, but now he looks like a potential star that defenses can’t adjust to and who is going to go under the radar as teams are paranoid about being put on Derrick Henry’s next highlight real.

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