The Pittsburgh Steelers released outside linebacker Preston Smith, the team announced on Friday. Smith was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the Steelers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft at the trade deadline in October.
Smith, who turns 33 in November, produced 2.0 sacks, eight pressures and a fumble recovery over eight regular season games and 161 defensive snaps after the trade to the Steelers. He was a healthy scratch during two of the team’s final three games, including the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Smith was due to make $12 million in base salary in 2025. The Steelers will clear his entire $13.4 million cap hit off the team’s books for 2025 and $14.1 million more for 2026.
The Packers will still count $9.88 million on the team’s cap for Smith in the form of dead money in 2025. His prorated signing bonus accelerated onto the team’s cap for 2025 when the Packers traded him to Pittsburgh.
Smith. who signed as a free agent in Green Bay in 2019, played in 91 regular season games for the Packers over six seasons. He produced 44.0 sacks, 42 tackles for loss and 96 quarterback hits while in Green Bay. Smith also appeared in seven postseason games, producing 4.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
If the Steelers want to clear more cap space for 2025, releasing former Packers defensive lineman Dean Lowry — and saving $2.5 million — is another option.