NFL rumors: Preston Smith traded from Packers to Steelers after Mike Williams deal | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly not done adding players ahead of Tuesday’s 4:00 PM ET NFL trade deadline.

After NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the AFC North team acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Steelers landed linebacker Preston Smith in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.

According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, the Packers received a 2025 draft pick in 2025 in return.

While the 6-3 Packers are in the middle of the NFC playoffs and don’t fit the traditional mold of deadline sellers, Smith turns 32 this month and has played just 54 percent of available defensive snaps through nine games, per Pro Football Reference.

Moving him now allows Green Bay to elevate younger players as it makes its playoff push while getting something in return.

He is also due $12 million in base salary in 2025 and again in 2026 on a contract who may not age very well, so the Packers were somewhat proactive with this trade.

As for the Steelers, they add another notable name to a defense that ranks second in the league in points allowed per game. game (14.9) and a major reason the team leads the AFC North at 6-2.

Smith may not be the same player he was at his peak of 2.5 sacks this season, but he is coming off three straight hauls with at least eight sacks. He posted 48 tackles, eight sacks, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles in 2023 and figures to give Pittsburgh veteran leadership down the stretch.

He’s also durable after appearing in at least 16 games every season since being drafted in 2015 and is heading into an ideal pass-rushing situation with the Steelers. After all, opposing offensive lines still have to double-team TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward, which should open up blitzing lanes for Smith.

The result could be far more production than he had this season with the Packers.