Preston Smith - Signing four-year extension Smith and the Packers have reached agreement on a four-year contract extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Impact Prior to the extension, Smith was scheduled for a $19.7 million cap hit in 2022, the final season of a four-year contract he signed in March 2019. With Smith coming back and the Packers facing a difficult cap situation, it didn't come as much of a surprise that the team moved on from fellow pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, who also was signed in March 2019. While Za'Darius was the more productive of the two in 2019 and 2020, he managed just one appearance in 2021 due to a back injury, which helped set the stage for a breakout from 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary (9.5 sacks, 28 QB hits last season). The Packers will be in good shape at outside linebacker in 2022 with Preston Smith and Gary leading the way.
MARCH 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
