When Pittsburgh Steelers GM Omar Khan and the Steelers front office acquired OLB Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, many began to speculate if this was the biggest steal of the date limit of trade. Alex Highsmith’s apparent ankle injury in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders further cements the Smith acquisition as one of the biggest trades of 2024.
While backup Nick Herbig performed admirably, the Steelers went 2-2 in the games Highsmith missed, highlighting the need for a veteran opposite TJ Watt.
Smith, who has played in 156 games with 138 starts over his 10-year career, is exactly what could save the Steelers’ defense with Highsmith poised to miss time.
Used sparingly in Week 10, Smith still managed to record a sack on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The “Khan Artist” truly struck gold by acquiring Smith’s talents, and this move could reshape the entire landscape of Pittsburgh’s defense. Smith, 31, will look to fill the void left by Highsmith and aims to start by sacking Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in Week 11.
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This article was originally published on Steelers Wire: Could Preston Smith be the lifeline for the Steelers defense?
