Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired Preston Smith, a seasoned edge rusher, from the Green Bay Packers as part of their moves during the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

Smith, aged 31, brings a wealth of experience to the team with 138 starts in his decade-long career with Washington and Green Bay. His impressive record includes 68.5 career sacks. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, Smith is known for his defensive skills against the run, having amassed 430 career tackles and 71 tackles for loss.

Originally drafted by Washington from Mississippi State in the second round, Smith adapted to a new role as a defensive end this season with the Packers due to a change in coordinators. He participated in all nine games, securing 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Throughout his ten seasons in the NFL, Smith has achieved at least eight sacks six times. His most productive season was in 2019 when he recorded a personal best of 12 sacks after joining Green Bay as a free agent following his stint with Washington.

In the previous season, Smith played over 800 defensive snaps for the fifth time in six years and registered eight sacks alongside 48 tackles.

Smith's addition to the Steelers' lineup is expected to enhance their pass-rushing capabilities. He can contribute both as a defensive end or shift inside during passing situations within nickel and dime packages. Furthermore, Smith will have opportunities to return to his former position as an outside linebacker for Pittsburgh. This will allow him to support T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith while offering additional depth along with Nick Herbig.

The Steelers initially sought to fill this position by re-signing Markus Golden during preseason; however, Golden retired during training camp. With Smith now on board, Pittsburgh may implement a four-man rotation at outside linebacker positions, allowing Watt and Highsmith more rest by reducing their snap count closer to between seventy-five and eighty percent.