Several Teams Showing Interest in Steelers Free-Agent Linebacker
Several teams have reportedly shown interest in signing Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent linebacker Preston Smith.
A little more than two weeks after the Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran linebacker Preston Smith, it seems his market is already starting to heat up.
Tony Pauline of SportsKeeda believes Smith will quickly find a new home when free agency opens in about a week with several teams already showing interest in the veteran.
“Former Steelers edge rusher Preston Smith, who was released as a salary-cap casualty just a few weeks ago, is getting a lot of interest here at the combine,” Pauline writes. “Three teams, most prominently the Buffalo Bills, have expressed a desire to sign Smith once free agency begins. If it happens, it would be a great coupling, as Buffalo needs depth at pass rusher, and Smith wants to finish his career with a playoff team.”
While it looks like Smith will have several suitors on the open market, it was still the right move for the Steelers to part ways with him. Pittsburgh saved $13.4 million in salary cap space with the release of Smith.
Smith is also 32 and the Steelers are just fine at the position with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig highlighting the room.
The Steelers traded a seventh-round pick for Smith at the trade deadline, and they got their money’s worth. In eight games, he recorded 13 tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Smith’s stint in Pittsburgh will be capped to just eight games, but general manager Omar Khan has no regrets trading for Smith or fellow trade-deadline acquisition Mike Williams.
“I think both of those guys helped us. If I had to do it again, I would do it again,” he said.