Aaron Rodgers may become the latest ex-Green Bay Packers star to join Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers, but his former teammate could face retirement after a disappointing spell wearing the black and gold.
Preston Smith requested a trade before last year's deadline after a rough start to the season in Jeff Hafley's scheme.
He wasted no time making that look like the correct call with a sack on Steelers debut. However, his promising start didn't last. Smith's snap counts decreased by season's end and Tomlin named him a healthy scratch for their playoff loss against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Steelers released Smith after the season, turning the trade into a major win for the Packers.
Offseason workout programs will soon resume, but Smith is still looking for work and is quickly running out of time.
Former Packers pass-rusher Preston Smith is running out of time to revive NFL career
Several teams still need pass-rush help, including the Packers, but a reunion with Za'Darius Smith feels more likely than Preston Smith at this point. That says it all.
Preston Smith struggled to adjust to the Packers' 4-3 scheme, making only 2.5 sacks in nine games, but things didn't get any better when he moved to a more familiar system in Pittsburgh, finishing his brief Steelers tenure with only two sacks in eight contests.
A team needing pass-rush help could give him an opportunity by the time training camp begins, but there's also a real possibility that Smith's NFL run is over ahead of his age-33 season.
The Steelers released Smith three months ago, but, as of yet no team has made a move.
Free agency and the NFL Draft have since been and gone, giving teams more opportunities to round out their pass-rush depth chart.
Roster building is a year-round process, but pass-rush-needy teams have other options, including Za'Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney. Time is running out for Preston Smith, and with OTAs fast approaching, there's a real possibility that he has played his final NFL snap.