Preston Smith

Preston Smith

31-Year-Old LinebackerLB
Pittsburgh Steelers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Smith remained a steady pass rusher for the Packers in his fifth year with the club, hitting the eight-sack mark for the fourth time in five tries. He'll spend a sixth season with Green Bay and is scheduled to move to a defensive end spot with the team implementing a 4-3 scheme. Smith could cede some snaps to 2023 first-rounder Lukas Van Ness, but he'll remain in a key role one way or another. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#486
ADP
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Signed a four-year, $52 million restructured contract with the Packers in March of 2022. Traded to the Steelers in November of 2024.
Gets moved to AFC North
LBPittsburgh Steelers
November 5, 2024
The Steelers acquired Smith from the Packers on Tuesday in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Smith's snap share had dwindled to less than 50 percent in three of the last five games, and through nine contests, he accrued just 2.5 sacks on the season, so it's unsurprising that the Packers are opting to move on from the soon-to-be 32-year-old in favor of younger pass-rushing talent currently on the team. With the Steelers, Smith will work opposite standout T.J. Watt, which may open up more opportunities for him to get to opposing quarterbacks.
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Pittsburgh SteelersSteelers 2024 LB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

471100%
18199%
43292%
16691%
22047%
8547%
21245%
9954%
16735%
6134%
13729%
00%
9219%
6435%
204%
2011%
112%
116%
10%
11%
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2024 Preston Smith Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Preston Smith's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 5"
 
Weight
265 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.74 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.28 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.07 sec
 
Vertical Jump
34.0 in
 
Broad Jump
121 in
 
Bench Press
24 reps
 
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Smith hasn't come too close to matching the 12.0 sacks he put up in his first season with Green Bay in 2019, but he did rack up 17.5 sacks while missing only one game over the last two years, so the Packers retained him for another go-around. He figures to continue holding down a regular role, particularly with fellow pass rusher Rashan Gary working his way back from a torn ACL. Smith will be pushed for snaps, though, particularly when Gary is back in the mix.
After a tough 2020 season in which he tied his career low in sacks, Smith bounced back a year ago, registering nine sacks and forcing two fumbles. He did little in the tackle department, though, and saw his snap count decline for a second straight season. Smith did enough to be retained by the Packers and will be counted as the starting edge opposite Rashan Gary.
It was thought that Smith could be a cap casualty this offseason after his sack total dropped from 12 in 2019 to four last year, but the Packers decided to bring him back, albeit at a lower cost. He'll continue playing a key role on the edge for the team, but with fellow pass rusher Rashan Gary ascending, Smith may not get enough opportunities to bounce back in the sack department. As such, Smith figures to remain on the fringes in fantasy circles.
Teammate and fellow offseason addition Za'Darius Smith stole most of the headlines last season, but Preston Smith was nearly as effective in his first year as a Packer, recording 12 sacks - a career high and the eighth-best mark in the league - to Za'Darius' 13.5. "The Smith Brothers" will both be back in Green Bay in 2020, and with Za'Darius attracting the most attention from opposing offenses, Preston should again see plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities with opposing linemen. Double-digit sacks will be well within reach.
The Packers focused heavily on their pass rush during the offseason, and Smith will be counted on to improve that area in his first season with the team. His sack production varied the last four years with the Redskins, but he has recorded 24 sacks over 64 career games. Smith started every game the last three years, and the contract he signed indicates the Packers are planning to use him in the same role. His snap count is unlikely to change significantly, though, so don't expect a major difference in his fantasy output.
Smith has certainly lived up to expectations since the Redskins made him a second-round pick back in 2015, as the linebacker has totaled 20.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups (with three picks) and four forced fumbles without missing a single game. However, he doesn't have the responsibility in run support that other defenders do, which has consistently led to underwhelming tackle totals over the past three seasons. With his role in that area unlikely to expand anytime soon, it's difficult to keep Smith in the IDP conversation ahead of the 2018 season.
It's no secret Smith took a step back last season after posting an impressive eight sacks to go along with 35 combined tackles and three forced fumble during his 2015 rookie campaign. However, the 24-year-old still managed to record 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and three passes defended in 2016, starting in all 16 contests. The Redskins spent the offseason loading up on the defensive side of the ball which could put Smith in line for his best season yet.
Smith’s rookie season in 2015 saw him record an impressive 8.0 sacks to go along with 35 combined tackles and four forced fumble. There is no question that Smith is a promising player on a Redskins defense that struggled quite a bit in 2015, surrendering just over 380 yards per game to opposing offenses during the regular season. The second-year player out of Mississippi State will be in the mix among the Redskins’ front seven this season and, if he can continue improving on last season’s success, could be a deeper-league IDP at some point during the year, especially if Ryan Kerrigan or another pass-rusher were to go down with an injury.
2nd round draft pick, Smith is expected to compete with Trent Murphy for time at outside linebacker. Smith is better suited for a 4-3 offensive system but comes into camp as one of the team's best pass rushers. He should see time on the field immediately but may struggle in pass coverage.
More Fantasy News
Past illness
LBGreen Bay Packers
August 21, 2024
Smith (illness) returned to practice Wednesday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Falls ill
LBGreen Bay Packers
Illness
August 20, 2024
Smith is being limited by an illness Tuesday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Restructures deal for cap purposes
LBGreen Bay Packers
February 28, 2024
Smith and the Packers agreed to a restructured contract Wednesday, creating $2.4 million in cap room, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Another productive season
LBGreen Bay Packers
January 23, 2024
Smith stacked up 48 tackles (28 solo), 8.0 sacks, four passes defended and two fumble recoveries over 17 games in the 2023 regular season.
ANALYSIS
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Ready to go for divisional round
LBGreen Bay Packers
January 18, 2024
Smith (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Saturday's divisional-round contest versus the 49ers, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers official website reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Noted as trade candidate
LBGreen Bay Packers
October 24, 2023
The Packers could look to move Smith prior to the NFL trade deadline, Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Smith is under contract through 2027 and will have $30.3 million remaining on the deal after the 2023 season. Thus, any team looking to add him would need to be willing to take on a significant financial commitment, which is a questionable proposition given that he's currently 30 years old and has had a relatively slow start to the new campaign. From Green Bay's perspective, a move makes sense given that it will need to extend Rashan Gary and also used a first-round pick on Lukas Van Ness in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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