By Josh 
The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially decided to part ways with edge rusher Preston Smith, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on February 14.
“Steelers have released LB Preston Smith, whom they acquired before the trade deadline from the Green Bay Packers.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter), February 14, 2025
Smith’s Short Stint in Pittsburgh Ends
The Steelers acquired Smith from the Green Bay Packers at the NFL trade deadline on November 5, 2024. However, his time in Pittsburgh was short-lived.
- Stats in 8 regular-season games with the Steelers:
- 2 sacks
- 13 combined tackles (3 for loss)
- 2 quarterback hits
- 1 fumble recovery
- Inactive for the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Financial and Roster Implications
Smith’s release was widely expected due to his $13.4 million salary cap hit for the 2025 season. By cutting him, the Steelers clear all $13.4 million from their books without any dead money.
- According to Spotrac, the Steelers now rank 14th in salary cap space with $43.1 million available as of February 15.
- At 32 years old, Smith remains a productive veteran, but Pittsburgh deemed his backup role too expensive at his contract price.
Smith’s Career Highlights
Over 10 NFL seasons, Smith has built an impressive career:
- 70.5 sacks
- 443 combined tackles (74 for loss)
- 157 quarterback hits
- 10 forced fumbles
- 27 pass defenses, 5 interceptions
His best season came in 2019 with the Packers, where he posted 12 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hits.
Steelers’ Edge Rusher Depth Moving Forward
Despite losing Smith, the Steelers remain well-stocked at edge rusher heading into 2025:
- T.J. Watt – Perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate
- Alex Highsmith – Signed to a long-term deal
- Nick Herbig – Breakout potential, posted 5.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 2024
With these three pass rushers in place, Smith became expendable, especially given his high cap hit.
What’s Next for Smith?
As a veteran edge rusher with playoff experience, Smith could still draw interest from teams looking for pass-rush depth. Potential landing spots include:
- Chicago Bears (need veteran leadership on defense)
- Kansas City Chiefs (could use an experienced rotational edge rusher)
- Baltimore Ravens (a proven pass rusher fits their defensive identity)
Smith’s release is part of Pittsburgh’s offseason strategy to free up cap space for future moves, potentially including a contract extension for T.J. Watt.