The math at the NFL Trade Deadline is rather simple. The bad teams sell good players to contending teams looking to improve. The best teams send draft picks to their inferiors for said stars.
But every so often, a wrench is thrown into that equation.
At 6-3, the Green Bay Packers are likely headed to the NFC playoffs. If things break the right way, they have a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl. But on Tuesday, they sent starting edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
The move came as a bit of a surprise. With edge rushers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig already in the building, there wasn’t a need for reinforcements. But Pittsburgh found a way to reinforce its depth without giving up anything of significance, and jumped at the opportunity just hours after trading for receiver Mike Williams.
However, Smith revealed on Monday that he had actually requested a trade from the Packers.
“It was great, knocking the rust off,” Smith said via Chris Adamski. “Well, really not much rust off, I just played Sunday. But just getting out here, getting in a system I’m comfortable in and playing at a high level. I’m loving it right now.”
Smith wanted to be moved because, for the first time as a professional, Smith was asked to be a 4-3 defensive end, rather than a 3-4 outside linebacker. While both roles primarily rush the passer, a 3-4 rusher is often lined up wider and asked to play a more versatile role with occasional coverage responsibilities. That’s obfuscated by a league-wide shift to four-down nickel fronts, but Smith clearly felt a change was necessary.
The Packers, despite wanting to buy at the deadline, met his request and sent him to a Pittsburgh team that will use him more effectively, while offering him a chance at meaningful January football. In an often ruthless business, it stands out that Green Bay acted in the best interest of a respected veteran.
“Just what I’ve been playing in the last nine years of my career, ‘til this past season, is what I’ve been comfortable playing in and what I’ve been used to playing in the previous nine seasons. So just being back in the system it’s like riding your favorite bike again.”
With the Steelers, Smith won’t be asked to play a featured role. But he’s optimized in defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s defense, and has plenty of talent around him to help make a difference.
If he makes one impactful play down the stretch, it will be a good use of a seventh-round pick. The opportunities to do so should be plentiful given the daunting second-half schedule.
