With the Green Bay Packers jumping through hoops in the offseason to navigate their cap situation, Preston Smith was expected to be a casualty of financial constraints. Instead, Green Bay was able to restructure under the premise of this season being a prove-it year for the veteran pass rusher.
Smith has shown the same motor he had in 2019. As a result, he’s proving his worth in crucial moments for Green Bay.
With Rashan Gary‘s emergence at the end of the 2020 season, Green Bay’s edge rusher room was getting jam-packed. That certainly isn’t a bad thing. Gary ended up assuming the second starting role on the edge over Smith as last year wound down. Given Smith’s downward trajectory, it wasn’t hard for Matt LaFleur and the rest of the staff to justify the move. One year later, everything has flipped.
Za’Darius Smith going down after Week 1 created a massive opportunity for Preston. After playing in all 16 regular-season games a year ago and recording only four sacks, Preston Smith has seven this year in 12 games. It’s a streak that has included five sacks in the last four games combined. His win rate at the line of scrimmage is up drastically from a year ago as well, according to Pro Football Focus. What was assumed to be a year where the Packers sprinkled Preston Smith in around Za’Darius and Gary has morphed into him becoming the co-star alongside Gary. Teammates have raved about the leadership role he has assumed this year. On Sunday, it showed up when Preston Smith gave an impassioned halftime speech to the Packers after a rocky first half against the Chicago Bears.
“He’s (Preston Smith) the kind of guy, when he talks, he’s respected,” Aaron Rodgers said. “I just really love the guy. I think he’s a good human, he’s a great player, and I love what he brings to the team from a leadership standpoint. He’s stepped into that role even more this year and I’m very, very proud of him and proud to be his friend and proud to be his teammate.”
Whatever Smith said seemed to click. Green Bay gave up 27 points in the first half and only three points in the second half after he made it clear this wasn’t how the Packers play at home. It’s one thing to preach. It’s another to lead by example. Smith did both by forcing a huge strip-sack on Chicago’s second play of the third quarter.
It would’ve been easy for Preston Smith to take the pay cut and come in with a bitter attitude, causing some disruption in the defense. Instead, he’s pieced together a mammoth season that will likely lead to a bigger payday next year. He’s had this mindset from the jump following the pay cut in the offseason, as highlighted by Sports Illustrated back in October.
“Just my mindset, just to come in and play at a high level, dominate, be the best teammate I can be, regardless of the off-the-field stuff. Like, people don’t understand, it’s a business. I’m a business. The situation is just a business. And you’ve got to understand business and never put your feelings into it, and just handle it the correct way. Because who knows? If I have a great season, would I see a bigger payday from this pay cut? That could happen, but that’s not my mindset.”
Things could have spiraled out of control with this unit. They’ve lost Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith to injury and have a new defensive coordinator. Given its recent history, it’s a group that is always doubted in the big moments and the big games. Instead, they’ve become a top-10 defense bolstered by free-agent pickup De’Vondre Campbell and in-season steal Rasul Douglas. Rashan Gary has been tremendous, and rookie Eric Stokes has stepped up big time. Yet Brian Gutekunst’s most significant move may have been the one to bring back Preston Smith instead of letting him walk.
What happens after this year is anyone’s guess. The focus right now is racking up wins. As Smith piles up the sacks, he continues to hit his incentives. Smith has seven sacks this year, eclipsing his $500,000 incentive target of six. At 10, he’ll earn another $750,000. If he reaches 12, bank another $750,000 for No. 91. It’s all coming together in a resurgent year for Preston Smith in a situation that not all veteran players would’ve embraced.
