{"id":6795,"date":"2024-11-06T11:46:57","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T11:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=6795"},"modified":"2024-11-06T11:46:57","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T11:46:57","slug":"breaking-steelers-trade-for-pass-rushing-reinforcement-preston-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=6795","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Steelers Trade for Pass Rushing Reinforcement Preston Smith.."},"content":{"rendered":"
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a second trade ahead of the deadline, acquiring Green Bay Packers edge rusher Preston Smith.<\/div>\n
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The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0are serious about contending for a\u00a0Super Bowl. On Tuesday, the\u00a0NFL\u2019s trade deadline, Pittsburgh made necessary upgrades to influence the passing game on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

That began with the fifth-round pick it sent to the\u00a0New York Jets\u00a0for receiver\u00a0Mike Williams, and it continued when the Steelers traded for\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0edge rusher Preston Smith.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh acquired Smith for a seventh-round pick.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a9 Dan Powers-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, given the team\u2019s perceived strength at edge rusher. T.J. Watt, of course, is one of the best players on the planet, and Alex Highsmith is a formidable force in his own right.<\/p>\n

Smith makes the Steelers deeper, and it also ensures last year\u2019s Wild Card Round loss won\u2019t happen in the same fashion. In 2023, Watt missed the contest with an injury, rendering Pittsburgh\u2019s defense vulnerable enough for the\u00a0Buffalo Bills\u00a0and\u00a0Josh Allen\u00a0to comfortably advance.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no replacing Watt, but bolstering the spots behind him is a worthy insurance policy for a team that intends to play meaningful January Football.<\/p>\n

The move also calls into question the status of Nick Herbig, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. While soft-tissue ailments can be tricky and linger well past the initial strain, the\u00a0Steelers\u2019 acquiring Smith shouldn\u2019t be seen as a white flag on Herbig\u2019s fate. Instead, the two are expected to provide Pittsburgh with an extra layer of potency, creating one of the deepest groups of pass rushers in the league.<\/p>\n

Smith has played fairly well this season, despite logging only 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. He\u2019s versatile enough to take on the occasional coverage role and remains viable against both the pass and run.<\/p>\n

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For the cost of a seventh-round pick, general manager Omar Khan found a competent veteran, a leader in the locker room, and a battle-tested playoff performer \u2013 he logged 1.5 sacks in Green Bay\u2019s two playoff games last season.<\/p>\n