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Smith lasted just a half-season in Pittsburgh following his trade from Green Bay
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they have parted ways with former Green Bay Packers edge defender Preston Smith, who they released. Smith, a veteran, is not subject to waivers and can re-sign with any team of his choosing.
After beginning his career with the Washington Redskins, Smith, a former second-round pick, signed with the Packers in the 2019 offseason on a four-year, $52 million contract. In Green Bay, he split time with Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary. In total, he suited up for 91 games for the Packers, making 88 starts, and posted 44 sacks with the team.
At the trade deadline, Green Bay sent Smith to the Steelers, who run the 3-4 defense that he was most familiar with from his time in Washington and his pre-Jeff Hafley days with the Packers. Smith played all but one regular season game for Pittsburgh following the trade, but he was a healthy scratch in the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
With the in-season move, the Packers saved about $2 million in game checks that the Steelers ended up paying Smith for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. They also acquired a seventh-round pick, which is expected to be the 239th pick in the draft, according to Tankathon.
This is one of two seventh-round picks that Green Bay is expected to own, along with a compensatory selection that should be given to them for losing tackle Yosh Nijman in free agency to the Carolina Panthers. The Packers don’t own their original seventh-round pick for the 2025 draft, because that was sent to the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis.
