The Pittsburgh Steelers don't usually make much noise around the trade deadline, but that wasn't the case for the 2024 season. General Manager Omar Khan has been trying to strike deals since the start of training camp, and he finally found some success on the last day that he was able to do so. The general manager acquired Mike Williams from the New York Jets and then traded with the Green Bay Packers for Preston Smith. Both players fill an area of need for the Steelers, and both guys are experienced veterans looking to win.
New York Jets
Mike Williams walks out of the tunnel at Acrisure Stadium before playing the Steelers in 2024.
The Williams trade was semi-obvious. Everyone knew that Pittsburgh was on the hunt for a wide receiver after their efforts to land Brandon Aiyuk and Davante Adams, and Williams seemed like he was on his way out of New York. Smith was the trade that not many were expecting. Pittsburgh gave Green Bay a seventh-round pick in exchange for Smith, who has seemed to be struggling during the 2024 season.
Smith is typically classified as an outside linebacker or a defensive end, depending on what defense he is playing in. The Packers changed defensive coordinators during the 2024 offseason, which meant a change in their base defense. Paul Bretl of ESPN La Crosse wrote about the trade and how the change on defense has effected Smith.
"Operating as a 3-4 edge rusher for much of his career, the shift to Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 hand in the dirt defensive scheme came as a change for Smith," Bretl wrote. "Although, we don’t definitively know what role–if any–that played in his on-field production this season. Smith’s numbers have taken a tumble."
Jeff Hafley was hired by Green Bay during the 2024 offseason and changed a lot about the team's defense. The Packers' personnel was used to operating out of the 3-4, but Hafley switched things to the 4-3 ahead of the 2024 season. Teams usually build their roster with their base defense in mind, so a switch like this is pretty drastic and severe for guys along the defensive line.
Getty Images
Steelers' Preston Smith celebrates a big play while he was with the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers' defense operates out of the 3-4, which is what Smith prefers and it is the defense he has had the most success in. The major difference between the two defenses is that in the 4-3, there is an extra defensive lineman, and in the 3-4 there are three down defensive linemen. In the 3-4, there are usually two inside linebackers, and then two outside linebackers, which is the position Smith thrives in.
Steelers' Preston Smith Will Look To Return To Form With Pittsburgh
From 2016 through 2023, Smith was listed as an outside linebacker, mainly because he was playing in a 3-4 defense. During that time, Smith started in 127 games and recorded 58 sacks, five interceptions, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 376 tackles. This is the type of production Pittsburgh wants to see behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.
In 2024 while playing in the 4-3 defense, Smith has struggled some. He has started all nine games for Green Bay, but has recorded just 2.5 sacks and 19 tackles on the year. Smith will now be coming to Pittsburgh where he can play in a 3-4 defense again, and hopefully find some of that success he had before 2024. Smith's snap counts had been diminishing as the season went along in Green Bay, so he probably looks forward to the change of scenery.
Nick Wass / AP Photo
Smith should perform well in the 3-4 for Pittsburgh, specifically at outside linebacker, but he also has the versatility to fill in at defensive end if it is needed. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers work him into the game plan.
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