On Wednesday the Dallas Cowboys released linebacker Jaylon Smith. This came just four-games into his fifth year with the Cowboys since being drafted back in the 2016 NFL Draft. It didn’t take long for the former second round pick to find a new home though.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news on Thursday that the Green Bay Packers & Jaylon Smith have agreed to a one-year deal. Green Bay is in a tight cap situation but luckily for them the Dallas Cowboys will be paying most of Jaylon Smith’s salary from this season so money was not too big of an issue.
The #Packers agreed to terms with LB Jaylon Smith, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2021
Jaylon Smith was the 34th overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, and signed a five-year extension with Dallas in 2019. Ever since then though Smith has become the odd-man out of the linebacker core. In 2018 the Cowboys added Leighton Vander Esch with their 19th overall pick, and this most recent draft class the Cowboys added Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox. Not to mention Keanu Neal who recently was added to the roster this offseason, and converted to linebacker.
At Notre Dame, Jaylon Smith was one of the most elite linebackers in college football during three seasons there. He accounted for 292 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 39 games with the Fighting Irish. Unfortunately during his last game with Notre Dame Smith suffered a devastating knee injury. He was once thought to never be able to play football again but the Dallas Cowboys still took a $4.5M risk in drafting him.
Now he looks to help Aaron Rodgers & the Green Bay Packers get to another Super Bowl. The Packers defense could definitely use some added talent to their young linebacker core. He is likely to start next to De’Vondre Campbell who has been a nice surprise for the Packers thus far.
