Over the past two seasons, the Green Bay Packers have made a clear shift towards using younger players on offense, and this approach now seems to be extending to their defense as well. As the NFL’s November 5 trade deadline approaches, the team has reportedly started offering veteran edge rusher Preston Smith’s contract to other teams, according to an October 23 report from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Demovsky noted on October 23 that there are already reports of the Packers shopping Smith, who, at 31, is the team’s second-oldest player. The Packers are also reportedly seeking to bolster their pass rush by acquiring someone to replace him. Despite Smith’s high salary—$12 million this season and $12.6 million next—his performance has declined.