Steelers cut ties with veteran outside linebacker, add significant salary cap space

PITTSBURGH — This article originally appeared on SteelersNOW.com.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released outside linebacker Preston Smith, the team announced on Friday, an expected move that will come with significant salary-cap savings.

Smith, 32, joined the Steelers at the trade deadline in a trade from the Green Bay Packers. His contract at the time ran through the end of the 2026 season, with salaries of $13.4 million in 2025 and $14.1 million in 2026.

Though Smith had been a starter with the Packers, he was used as a reserve for the Steelers, slotting in behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and backup Nick Herbig in the team’s edge rusher rotation.

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