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In a surprising move, the Dallas Cowboys released Jaylon Smith on Tuesday. More chaos ensued as the New England Patriots were on the verge of severing ties with Stephon Gilmore on Wednesday. The Green Bay Packers missed Gilmore but made a deal with Smith. While some are excited because it’s a household name, this isn’t the consolation prize Green Bay needed.
Smith was a lock to play in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft before a horrific knee injury he sustained in his last game at Notre Dame scared off many scouts and leaders. The Cowboys took him in the second round, and he’s been excellent in his first two years, but his game has fallen sharply over the past two seasons.
Signing him looks glamorous because of his name, especially to Packers fans. We have dreamed of finding a long-term solution to the inside linebacker for a long time, but Smith won’t be.
Like every other NFL team, Green Bay had some weak spots early in the year, and they were exploited. However, that weak spot was not for the inside linebacker. The De’Vondre Campbell free agent pickup has been a hidden gem acquisition for the Packers. He was picked up at the end of the offseason. Although it was almost an afterthought for many, he produced one consistent performance after another.
Campbell leads the team in tackles for four weeks and has an interception and a fumble recovery on his resume. And he’s been durable, playing 100% defensive snaps over the past three weeks. Outside of Campbell, the position has been a bit thin at depth with Krys Barnes absent, but even Oren Burks has been appropriate to replace him.
Any idea that Smith will step in and play a leading role in this defense should be ignored. Smith has no longer shown the ability to be that type of player, even though he’s only 26 years old.
Smith’s story is incredible. Many believed his career was doomed after the leg injury at Notre Dame. He would readjust and become a major contributor for the Cowboys in his first two seasons. But the past two years have been on the opposite end of the spectrum. He was late in coverage, had slowed down noticeably when chasing a running back, and the Cowboys had much better, younger, and cheaper options, which made the decision to cut him easier for them.
Some point to Smith’s PFF rating (11th among all linebackers with at least 100 snaps). But he played sparingly for Dallas and played well with a sharply reduced role.
There’s a chance Smith could do well with the same light workload he had in Dallas this year, but the inside linebacker isn’t a problem right now. Green Bay should have saved their ammo for a move when they need it out of necessity, not because it’s a flashy name in a place they’ve historically had trouble with.
Jaire Alexander’s long-term status is still uncertain. If a meaningful moment is missing, Green Bay goes great at the cornerback with Kevin King also on the board. That’s why Gilmore made perfect sense. The interest seemed to be mutual before the Carolina Panthers decided they were contenders and went into the business to acquire the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
There is a need for a cornerback for the Packers right now. Rasul Douglas, who was recovered shortly after Green Bay missed Gilmore, will not provide those answers.
It would have made a lot more sense for the Packers to wait and then look for a cornerback who might become available than to block a spot with Smith. It’s the larger image that should always be the center of attention, especially if Alexander is for the long haul.
As the season continues and the injuries undoubtedly pile up for each team, the needs become much more evident. Green Bay is already slim at the cornerback, and it’s only Week 5. The offensive line has been phenomenal, with David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins running out of time. Anyone can guess how long he can hold up, but the Packers need to be prepared in case things get worse up front from an injury standpoint.
Teams usually don’t just cut ties with some really good players in the middle of the season, especially players who are held in very high regard for character and attitude like Smith. Dallas considered Smith to be consumable. And while they’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past, no one was willing to give up project capital or eat part of the paycheck when his name was brought up before the Cowboys released him. He’s not the same Jaylon Smith from two years ago.
Smith’s signing will not be a disaster and will not deserve outrage. But that decision makes no sense given where the weak spots are on this list and what areas might need to be dealt with with a trade down the road. It’s a household name, but if optimists suggest Smith is the perfect consolation prize for missing out on Gilmore, they’ll be disappointed.
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