For the second year in a row, the Green Bay Packers have traded one of their most notable defensive players ahead of the NFL Trade Deadline. Last season, the Packers sent fan-favorite cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third-round pick. Today, they shipped pass rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Whatever the Packers are receiving in return for Smith is not yet known. Earlier today, the Steelers also landed wide receiver Mike Williams in a trade with the New York Jets.
The move makes is possible for the Packers to give their younger pass rushers more playing time. It also allows Smith to go and perhaps be able to play more than he has been this season. The oldest player on Green Bay’s defense, he had seen his playing time fall in each of the past three seasons (80% of snaps in 2022; 66% in 2023; 54% this year).
Update: the Packers received a seventh-round draft pick from the Steelers as compensation for Smith.
Green Bay Packers Fans React to the Preston Smith Trade
Smith was one of three huge free agent signings by the Packers back in 2019. That year, they signed Smith, Za’Darius Smith, and Adrian Amos. Coincidentally, Za’Darius Smith was also traded today, from the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions.
Smith racked up 44.0 sacks during is time with the Packers, good for 11th in franchise history. He was also a respected leader in the locker room, making this move one that confused many fans:
As noted above, this move allows for the Packers to play their younger pass rushers such as Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and Arron Mosby, and Brenton Cox.
