Prior to the 2024 NFL trade deadline, the Green Bay Packers made the move to send pass rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was a bit of a shocking trade for the Packers’ fan base. Smith had been rumored to be on the market, but the trade came just ahead of the deadline and no other moves were made to replace him.

Smith, who had been a key part of the defense for five and a half years, was gone.

While the trade in the moment came as a surprise, it’s clear that Green Bay made the right choice. Smith went on to play in eight games with the Steelers, recording just 13 tackles and two sacks. He wasn’t a “bust” for Pittsburgh, but he certainly wasn’t a high impact player either.

Now, the Steelers have made a move with Smith to begin the NFL offseason.

According to a report from ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh has decided to release Smith. He will become a free agent and will have a chance to hand-pick his next team.

At 32 years old, Smith will look to latch on with a team in need of pass rushing help. There are quite a few of those teams around the NFL. He should not find it difficult to land a new job.

Throughout his NFL career, Smith has played in 163 career games. He has recorded 70.5 sacks during that time frame and has totaled 442 tackles to go along with 11 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, five interceptions, and 27 defended passes.

Even though he may not be that player anymore, he will always be loved by Packers fans. He provided a major impact and was a key leader for the Green Bay defense.

All of that being said, it will be interesting to see where Smith lands this offseason. Seeing him get released by the Steelers is a bit of a surprise, but it could give him a chance to land in a much better situation for himself.