The Pittsburgh Steelers made a bold move at the 2024 trade deadline, hoping Preston Smith would provide a veteran boost to their pass rush. Sending a seventh-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Smith seemed like a low-risk, high-reward move at the time. However, Smith’s impact was minimal, and he struggled to carve out a meaningful role in Pittsburgh’s defense. With younger pass rushers like Nick Herbig emerging and TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith continuing to dominate, Smith quickly became an afterthought in the Steelers’ rotation.
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Former Packers pass rusher Preston Smith during an away game.
The Steelers now appear ready to move on from Smith after just half a season. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, multiple general managers at the Senior Bowl believe the Steelers will cut Smith this offseason. His departure would free up cap space and open the door for Pittsburgh to explore younger, more explosive options at edge rusher. While Smith’s experience was a potential asset, his lack of production made it difficult to justify keeping him on the roster.
The Steelers have always prioritized building through youth, and this move would be no exception. Fans have been eager to know whether Smith would factor into the 2025 plans, and if Pauline’s report is accurate, the answer is clear. By moving on, Pittsburgh signals confidence in its current group of pass rushers while ensuring financial flexibility for other roster needs. With the offseason in full swing, the Steelers will likely shift their focus to reinforcing key areas and maintaining their elite defensive identity.
"On Tuesday, I was told by people close to the situation that Preston Smith will be a cap casualty and is expected to be cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers," Pauline said. "Smith, a nine-year veteran, signed a four-year, $52 million deal with his former club, the Green Bay Packers, in 2022. The Packers traded Smith to the Steelers in November last year for a seventh-round pick. His cap number the final two years of his deal is projected to be around $27.5 million according to Spotrac. Based on my conversations, l'd say there's a 99 percent chance Smith gets cut by the Steelers."
The decision to cut Smith wouldn’t be a major surprise for Steelers fans, but it does confirm that the experiment didn’t go as planned. Trading a seventh-round pick for him was a low-risk move at the time, a gamble worth taking in hopes of adding veteran pass-rushing depth. However, Smith never made the impact Pittsburgh had envisioned, making the move a failed bet—but one the Steelers could afford to lose.
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Steelers' Preston Smith attempts to rush Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during an away game in Washington.
Smith played in 17 games during the 2024 season—10 with the Packers and seven with the Steelers. However, he was inactive for Pittsburgh’s playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. The exact reason remains unclear, but it’s likely the Steelers felt they needed different personnel for that specific matchup. In his seven games with Pittsburgh, Smith recorded two sacks and one forced fumble, but his impact was limited.
Steelers Have A Lot To Address In The 2025 NFL Draft
As the Steelers turn their attention to the 2025 NFL Draft, speculation will be rampant about where they’ll focus their efforts. While the offense remains the biggest area of concern, particularly at wide receiver, the defense now has holes to fill as well. The defensive line struggled down the stretch, and while Cam Heyward had an outstanding 2024 season, he can only hold off Father Time for so long. Strengthening both sides of the ball will be crucial if Pittsburgh hopes to take the next step in 2025.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Cam Heyward and Mike Tomlin walk off the field after a game.
The Steelers need to regain their defensive dominance while overhauling their struggling offense. That process will begin in the draft and continue through free agency. Steeler Nation will be eager to see if the team can identify its biggest weaknesses and make the necessary improvements for a stronger 2025 season.
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