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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – The Packers didn’t land former All Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore, but may have found some help in their defense after all in former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith.
Smith reached an agreement Thursday morning on a one-year contract, his agent, Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The move came less than 24 hours after the Packers were announced as a potential contender for Gilmore shortly before he was traded from the New England Patriots to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round pick in 2023. But the Packers did not have enough salary cap space to acquire Gilmore in a trade, as they would be expected to inherit the remaining $ 5.8 million of his base salary on this year’s salary cap. The Packers only have around $ 6.5 million in ceiling space and still need space for in-season moves that injuries can require.
Smith, however, comes under the cap because the Cowboys have to pay his full base salary of $ 7.2 million this season due to the veteran severance pay rules.
With the Packers, Smith could work his way into the starting lineup alongside De’Vondre Campbell, who has been one of their greatest playmakers this season, or simply offer some depth of backup. Second-year pro Krys Barnes opened the season as another starting inside linebacker, but missed last week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a concussion he suffered the week before against the San Francisco 49ers.
Without Barnes, the Packers used a combination of Ty Summers and Oren Burks alongside Campbell.
Smith, 26, saw his role with the Cowboys diminish with the addition of first-round pick Micah Parsons, production of Leighton Vander Esch and the return of Keanu Neal from the reserve / COVID-19 roster.
Smith was a Cowboys second-round pick in 2016, although they knew he was unlikely to play for a year given the knee injury he sustained in his last varsity game at Notre Dame. .
He made his debut in 2017 and has played in every game since.
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