**Green Bay Packers Trade Veteran Edge Rusher Preston Smith to Pittsburgh Steelers**

In a significant move just hours before the NFL trade deadline, the Green Bay Packers have agreed to trade veteran edge rusher Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Packers will receive a 2025 seventh-round pick in return, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Smith joined the Packers during the 2019 offseason as one of their major free-agent signings and quickly made an impact with a breakout season, recording 12.0 sacks. While he did not reach double digits in sacks in subsequent years, Smith remained a consistent performer on the defense, accumulating 44 sacks over five and a half seasons.

In recent years, Green Bay had adjusted Smith's contract multiple times to manage their salary cap while keeping him on the roster. Most recently, in February, the team created an additional $2.4 million in cap space, adjusting Smith's 2024 compensation to $10 million.

The decision to trade Smith comes as his performance began to wane this season. Through the first nine games, he managed only 2.5 sacks and 10 pressures, a decline from his 8.0 sacks and 45 pressures last season. In Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, Smith saw limited action, playing just 21 snaps on defense, which marked a season low, as first-round pick Lukas Van Ness saw increased playing time.

With Smith's departure, the Packers will shift their focus to developing Van Ness and other young talent. The team's pass rush has struggled with consistency this season and will now rely on a quartet of edge rushers that includes Rashan Gary, Kingsley Enagbare, Arron Mosby, and Van Ness.

At 31, Smith was the most tenured player in the Packers' defense and a respected locker room leader. While the move aligns with the franchise's focus on youth, it introduces challenges in maintaining defensive stability without one of their veteran presences.

Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst is scheduled to address the media later today to discuss the trade and the broader status of the team. For more in-depth coverage on the Packers, visit the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Packers Wire.