Steelers Sign Veteran Free Agent Linebacker

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing free agent linebacker Jaylon Smith, according to his agent Doug Hendrickson.

Smith, 28, was most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad from Nov. 2. Smith played in one game with the Raiders this season, making two tackles. He was released on Nov. 22 and has been a free agent since.

Smith also spent time with the New Orleans Saints this season, but did not appear in any games with them.

A 6-foot-2, 240-pound off-ball linebacker, Smith was a second-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He spent six years with the Cowboys. He missed his rookie year with an injury suffered in college, and worked as a reserve for most of 2017. He became a starter in 2018 and had success, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2019. That year, he had 142 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, nine passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception.

The following season, in 2020, he had 154 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, five passes defended, two fumble recoveries and in interception in his third straight season as a starter for Dallas.

In 2021, Smith was released by the Cowboys in a contract dispute after he was passed on the depth chart by Micah Parsons and Keanu Neal. He signed with the Green Bay Packers for a month before he was released and ended up with the New York Giants, where he stayed through the end of the 2022 season.

Smith played 17 games over two seasons with the Giants, and recorded 88 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass defended.

The Steelers are in desperate need of additional bodies at inside linebacker, where Elandon Roberts is the third consecutive starter to be lost to injury. Myles Jack and Mykal Walker are expected to start for the team this week against the Seattle Seahawks, with Blake Martinez and Mark Robinson providing depth. 

They are the only inside linebackers on the team’s roster. The Steelers have two vacancies on their practice squad, after the Indianapolis Colts signed away defensive back Henry Black and the Steelers released outside linebacker David Perales.