The Pittsburgh Steelers are letting go of a former Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith
On Friday, the team announced the release of outside linebacker Preston Smith, whom they acquired from the Green Bay Packers in a trade deadline deal back in November.
As the NFL’s new league year and free agency period approach, the Pittsburgh Steelers have started making roster adjustments to create salary cap flexibility.
The Steelers sent a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to Green Bay in exchange for Smith, but his tenure in Pittsburgh has come to an end after just eight games. Smith’s salary for the next two seasons was non-guaranteed, meaning Pittsburgh will recoup $13.4 million and $14.1 million against the cap in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Smith’s Brief Stint in Pittsburgh
The 32-year-old linebacker appeared in eight games for the Steelers, recording two sacks, one fumble recovery, and 13 total tackles. Smith saw consistent playing time early in his Steelers career, logging at least 17 defensive snaps in each of his first six games between Weeks 10 and 15. However, his role diminished as the season progressed.
In Week 16, Smith’s snap count dropped to just 13, and he was a healthy inactive for the Steelers’ Week 17 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day. He returned to the field in Week 18, playing 19 snaps, but was once again sidelined as a healthy inactive for Pittsburgh’s Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Final Nail in the Coffin
Smith’s absence from the postseason lineup signaled the end of his time with the Steelers. With his reduced role and the team’s need to manage its salary cap, the decision to release him was likely a strategic move to allocate resources elsewhere as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Preston Smith, a veteran with nine seasons of NFL experience, now enters free agency, where he could attract interest from teams in need of a proven pass rusher. Meanwhile, the Steelers will look to use the cap savings to address other areas of their roster as they aim to build a competitive team for the 2024 season.
The release marks the end of a short-lived chapter for Smith in Pittsburgh, but it opens the door for new opportunities for both the player and the team as they navigate the offseason.
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