On Tuesday, the Green Bay Packers traded outside linebacker Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a seventh-round draft pick. A lot of Packers fans were not thrilled with the move, and many felt it didn’t make sense except for creating more cap space.
Smith has played a role for the Packers this season and also has performed well for them over the last few seasons. He has recorded 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season in Green Bay and will look to make an impact in Pittsburgh for the remainder of the 2024 NFL season.
Preston Smith Announced He Requested Trade From the Green Bay Packers
When Smith met with the media on Wednesday for the first time as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, he made a critical announcement to the media. Preston Smith mentioned that he requested a trade from Green Bay because of a scheme change that didn’t fit his playing style.
The Packers front office accepted it and respected it because he went to a team that could very well be a factor in the playoffs this season. Pittsburgh is 6-2 this season and they currently lead in the AFC North division. It will be interesting to see how well Preston Smith plays alongside T.J. Watt.
More Play Time For Lukas Van Ness
With Smith no longer on the team, it will mean that Lukas Van Ness will see more play time with the Packers. He has recorded 20 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble this season. He was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa.
Green Bay is on a bye this week so they will not have to worry about the defense until after the bye week. Hopefully with Smith no longer on the team, Lukas Van Ness shows his true ability.
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