For the second consecutive year, the Green Bay Packers have traded a prominent defensive player right before the NFL Trade Deadline. Last year, they sent popular cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Today, pass rusher Preston Smith is headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What the Packers will receive for Smith hasn’t been disclosed yet. Earlier, the Steelers also acquired wide receiver Mike Williams in a trade with the New York Jets.
Smith was one of three major free-agent signings by the Packers in 2019, alongside Za’Darius Smith and Adrian Amos. Interestingly, Za’Darius Smith was also traded today, moving from the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions.
With 44.0 sacks during his time in Green Bay, Smith ranks 11th in franchise history. He was also a respected locker-room leader, making this trade puzzling for many fans.
This decision opens up opportunities for the Packers’ younger pass rushers and allows Smith to potentially gain more playing time elsewhere. As the oldest player on Green Bay’s defense, his snaps had decreased over the past three seasons (80% in 2022, 66% in 2023, and 54% this season).
Green Bay Packers Fans React to the Preston Smith Trade
As previously noted, this trade clears the way for Green Bay to focus on developing younger players like Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Arron Mosby, and Brenton Cox.
