Outside linebacker Preston Smith is expected to sign with the Green Bay Packers, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. His new deal is for four years, worth a total of $52 million and contains $16 million in guaranteed money. Smith spent the first four seasons of his career with the Washington Redskins.
The Packers also are signing Preston Smith, according to a league source. Huge day for the Packers defense.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 12, 2019
Green Bay Packers to Sign Safety Preston Smith
For the third consecutive season, Smith started all 16 games in 2018. Standing 6’5″, 265 pounds, the edge-rushing linebacker racked up four sacks, an interception, and scored his first career defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. His production mirrored Washington’s production on the defensive side of the ball, a middle-of-the-pack 17th ranked unit.
Although he isn’t an All-Pro talent, Smith has been a solid contributor in Washington and at times can significantly impact games. Only 26, Smith still has upside and can likely replicate or exceed his early production. In 2017, he intercepted two passes while notching eight sacks, tied for his career-high that he achieved in a limited role his rookie season.
In his first season as a full-time starter, Smith recorded his first career interception. Along with that, he picked up four-and-a-half sacks in a disappointing season for the Redskins, who failed to make the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
Growing up in Georgia, Smith stayed in SEC territory, playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. A defensive lineman in college, Smith flourished his senior season, accumulating nine sacks, 15 tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and two forced fumbles. He was named to the first-team All-SEC that season. In the 2015 NFL draft, the Redskins used their second-round selection to take Smith 38th overall. He was the seventh defensive end selected in that draft.
Smith has never missed a game due to injury throughout his NFL career. He’s a low-risk signing, and he has certainly earned his second NFL contract.
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