Steelers Turn Heads With Trade for Veteran Edge Rusher

Pundits expected the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire a wide receiver before the NFL trade deadline. They did that, sending a fifth-round pick to the New York Jets for Mike Williams. But the Steelers weren’t finished trading on November 5.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that hours before the NFL trade deadline, the Steelers also acquired veteran edge rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers.

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported the Steelers gave up a 2025 seventh-round for Smith.

The move shocked some Steelers media and fans, who expressed that surprise on social media on November 5.

“Woah. Didn’t see that one coming,” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora.

NFL insider John McMullen also tweeted that he “didn’t see” the Steelers acquiring Smith.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Christopher Carter conveyed his surprise through a GIF. He then added Smith will be a fourth edge rusher, so the team “can better handle injury” for the rest of 2024.

The Pat McAfee Show’s A.J. Hawk referred to Smith as a “really good pass rusher.”

“I’m curious to see what the compensation might be. I would imagine that you have to give up something decent,” said Hawk. “But actually, no, you probably don’t. You probably don’t.

“In the world now, you trade for great players, and you don’t have to give up too much, I guess.”

Hawk’s reaction came before the report that the Steelers gave up just a seventh-round choice for Smith.

Steelers Land Preston Smith for 7th-Round Pick

With Smith, the Steelers are bringing in a 10-year veteran to support what was already one of the best edge rushing groups in the NFL.

Smith began his career as a second-round pick for the then Washington Redskins in the 2015 NFL draft. Over his first four seasons in Washington, he posted a pair of 8-sack campaigns in 2015 and 2017.

He then reached new career highs with 12 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits during his first season with the Packers in 2019. He had at least 8 sacks in four of his first five seasons with the team from 2019-23.

Last year, Smith registered 8 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, 4 pass defenses and 2 forced fumbles. He’s not experiencing one of his best seasons this fall, but landing Smith for only a seventh-round pick is still a steal.

Smith recorded 2.5 sacks, 2 tackles for loss and 4 quarterback hits in nine games with Green Bay this season.

Steelers Edge Rushing Depth Heading Into Second Half of 2024

Once all of the team’s best edge rushers are healthy, Preston Smith will likely serve as Pittsburgh’s No. 4 edge rusher. If Smith dresses in Week 10, that could happen on November 10.

In his November 5 press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed confidence that Nick Herbig could play in Week 10. Starting edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith were both healthy entering the team’s Week 9 bye.

It’s unusual for an NFL team to have a player of Smith’s caliber on the bench. But Smith will provide insurance in case the injury bug hits the Steelers edge rushing room again during the second half of 2024.

Highsmith and Herbig have each missed three games this season. Last year, Watt played the entire regular season but suffered an injury in the season finale, which ruled him out for the AFC wild card round.

Steelers Depot reported that the Steelers will pay the remaining $2.02 million cap charge on Smith’s 2024 salary. After this season, Smith still has two more years remaining on the 4-year, $52 million extension he signed with the Packers.

Smith will have a $13.4 million cap hit for the 2025 season.