 Smith with theWashington Commanders in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 52 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1992-11-17)November 17, 1992 (age 33) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Stephenson(Stone Mountain, Georgia) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Mississippi State (2011–2014) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2015: 2nd round, 38th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Preston Demarquis Smith (born November 17, 1992) is an American professionalfootballdefensive end for theWashington Commanders of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMississippi State Bulldogs and was selected by theWashington Redskins in the second round of the2015 NFL draft. Smith has also been a member of theGreen Bay Packers andPittsburgh Steelers.
Smith was born on November 17, 1992, inAtlanta, Georgia.[1] attendedStephenson High School inStone Mountain, Georgia.[1] He was rated as a two-star recruit by247sports.com,[2] andScout.com,[3] and a three-star recruit byRivals.com.[4] He chose to play for theMississippi State Bulldogs over offers fromKentucky,Syracuse, andWest Virginia, among others.[4]
Smith appeared in 8 games as a true freshman in2011 season, recording a forcedfumble in a 31–3 win overOle Miss in theEgg Bowl.[1] In2012, Smith appeared in all 13 games and led the Bulldogs with 4.5sacks.[1] As a junior in2013, Smith recorded 2.5 sacks, including 2.0 in a 59–26 loss toLSU.[5]
Smith started the2014 season with a bang, winning theSoutheastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week Award in each of the first three weeks.[6] Smith recorded aninterception in the Bulldogs' 49–0 rout ofSouthern Miss,[7] and returned another acrobatic, one-handed interception for atouchdown in the Bulldogs' win overUAB.[8] Smith ended the season with 42tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and a touchdown.
At the end of his senior season, Smith was projected as a fourth-round pick in the2015 NFL draft byCBS and NFL Draft Scout.[9][10]
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| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+7⁄8 in (1.95 m) | 271 lb (123 kg) | 34 in (0.86 m) | 10+5⁄8 in (0.27 m) | 4.74 s | 1.60 s | 2.73 s | 4.28 s | 7.07 s | 34 in (0.86 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 24 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[11][12] | ||||||||||||
TheWashington Redskins selected Smith in the second round with the 38th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.[13] Smith was the seventhdefensive end drafted in 2015.[14]
On May 11, 2015, the Redskins signed Smith to a four-year, $5.77 million contract that includes $3.16 million guaranteed and asigning bonus of $2.46 million.[15][16][17] Throughouttraining camp, Smith competed to be the backup right outside linebacker against veteranTrent Murphy. Head coachJay Gruden named Smith the backup right outside linebacker to start the regular season, behind Murphy, after Junior Galette sustained a season-ending injury.[18]
He made his professional regular season debut in the Washington Redskins' season opener against theMiami Dolphins and made two solo tackles, forced two fumbles, a fumble recovery, and made his first career sack as they lost 17–10. During the third quarter, Smith recovered a fumble he caused while making his first career sack on quarterbackRyan Tannehill for a 13-yard loss.[19] In Week 13, Smith earned his first career start and recorded one solo tackle as the Redskins earned a 24–21 victory at theChicago Bears. On December 26, 2015, Smith tied his record of four combined tackles (three solo) and also had three sacks onSam Bradford during a 38–24 victory at thePhiladelphia Eagles in Week 16. His performance earned him thePepsi NFL Rookie of the Week.[20] He finished his rookie campaign with 35 combined tackles (24 solo), eight sacks, four pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and 2 starts.[21]
The Redskins finished first in theNFC East with a 9–7 record and clinched a playoff berth. On January 10, 2016, Smith appeared in his first career playoff game and recorded three combined tackles, a sack, and earned the firstsafety during a 35–18 loss against theGreen Bay Packers in the NFC Wildcard Game.[22]
In March 2016, Smith was voted as one of the best under-25 players in the NFL.[23] Smith entered training camp slated as a backup outside linebacker behindJunior Galette andRyan Kerrigan. Head coach Jay Gruden named Smith the starting right outside linebacker after Junior Galette sustained a torn Achilles during the 2016 preseason.[24] In a game against theMinnesota Vikings in November 2016, Smith had two sacks, along with his first careerinterception, helping the Redskins to a 26–20 win.[25]
Smith had a strong performance in the2017 win against theArizona Cardinals recording a sack, his second career interception, and a fumble recovery caused byAnthony Lanier.[26][27] In the last game of the season, Smith recorded his third career interception onNew York Giants quarterbackEli Manning.[28] In the 2017 season, he tied his season-high of eight sacks.
In2018, Smith recovered a fumble caused byRyan Kerrigan in the end zone helping to seal the Week 7 win against theDallas Cowboys and recording his first career touchdown.[29] Smith recorded his fourth career interception againstHouston Texans quarterbackDeshaun Watson in Week 11.[30]
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On March 14, 2019, Smith signed with the Packers on a four-year, $52 million contract.[31][32]In Smith's debut as a Packer in Week 1 against the Bears, he made 5 tackles and sackedMitchell Trubisky 1.5 times in the 10–3 win.[33] In Week 3 against theDenver Broncos, Smith sackedJoe Flacco 3 times and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Packers in the 27–16 win, earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.[34][35]In week 6 against theDetroit Lions, Smith sackedMatthew Stafford 1.5 times in the 23–22 win.[36]In week 10 against theCarolina Panthers, Smith recorded 2 sacks onKyle Allen in the 24–16 win.[37]
In Week 16 against the Vikings, Smith recorded 3 tackles and 1.5 sacks during the 23–10 win.[38] In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against theSeattle Seahawks, he recorded 2 sacks onRussell Wilson during the 28–23 win, including one at the 2-minute warning in the 4th quarter.[39] He finished the season with 56 tackles, 12 sacks and four pass deflections.[40]
In Week 10 against theJacksonville Jaguars, Smith recorded his first full sack of the season onJake Luton during the 24–20 win.[41] In Week 12 against the Bears onSunday Night Football, Smith recorded three total tackles (one for loss) and sacked BearsquarterbackMitchell Trubisky once during the 41–25 win; he also recovered a fumble forced by teammateZa'Darius Smith on Trubisky and returned it for a 14-yard touchdown, the second score of his career.[42]
On March 12, 2021, Smith signed a new contract in Green Bay that reduced his base salary after a disappointing 2020 season, with performance incentives that could increase his total pay to eclipse the previous figure if he tallied 14 sacks during the season.[43] Smith rebounded in 2021, tallying 9 sacks as a full-time starter with Za'Darius Smith injured for most of the year, and tallying high grades from Pro Football Focus.[44]
On March 14, 2022, Smith signed a four-year, $52.5 million extension with the Packers through the 2026 season.[45]
During the 2024 offseason, Smith switched positions from outside linebacker todefensive end after Green Bay's new defensive coordinator,Jeff Hafley, implemented a4–3 defense.[46] In 2024, he started nine games for the Packers and recorded 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks.[47]
On November 5, 2024, the Packers traded Smith to thePittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the2025 NFL draft.[48] With the Steelers using a3–4 defense, Smith switched back to the outside linebacker position.[49] Smith told the media he was not comfortable with his new role as a defensive end in Hafley's defense and requested a trade, which the Packers granted.[50]
Smith was released by the Steelers on February 14, 2025.[51]
On September 17, 2025, Smith signed with theWashington Commanders.[52]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | TDs | ||
| 2015 | WAS | 16 | 2 | 35 | 24 | 11 | 8.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 38 | 22 | 16 | 4.5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 8.0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 53 | 30 | 23 | 4.0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 | GB | 16 | 16 | 56 | 36 | 20 | 12.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GB | 16 | 13 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 4.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | GB | 16 | 16 | 38 | 25 | 13 | 9.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | GB | 17 | 17 | 59 | 38 | 21 | 8.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | GB | 17 | 17 | 48 | 28 | 20 | 8.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | GB | 9 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PIT | 8 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 163 | 138 | 443 | 275 | 168 | 70.5 | 0 | 27 | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 2 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | |||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | ||
| 2015 | WAS | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | GB | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | GB | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | GB | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | GB | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 7 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 4.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Source:pro-football-reference.com | ||||||||||||||||
