The Green Bay Packers had a relatively quiet offseason, but they are hoping that the biggest addition they could have made was already on their roster. Preston Smith has played two years with the Packers so far, and was extremely productive in his first year with the team. Unfortunately, he struggled to produce consistently last season.
Smith is a huge part of what Green Bay wants to do on the defensive side of the football. He is a capable pass-rusher and always has the potential to make a big play. The Packers need him to get back to that in 2021.
During the 2020 NFL season with the Packers, Smith ended up recording 42 total tackles to go along with four sacks, one fumble recovery, and three defended passes. As you can see from those numbers, he simply didn’t make a major impact. Back in 2019, however, he racked up 56 tackles, 12 sacks, one forced fumble, an interception, and four defended passes.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, can Smith get things turned around and get back to being a major difference maker for the Packers?
Can Preston Smith Turn Things Around In 2021?
Quite simply, the answer is that Smith will absolutely turn things around. He knows that this season will be a make or break moment for him with the Packers. With the rumors about the team potentially cutting or trading him this offseason, it’s on Smith to prove that Green Bay should keep him around for the final year of his contract in 2022.
There is no questioning the ability that Smith has on the football field. He can be an elite pass-rusher and can make big-time plays on any snap. Just because he had an off year doesn’t mean there should be a ton of panic about him.
Green Bay obviously feels the same way, as they decided to keep him around for another year. They still firmly believe that the “Smith Bros” can get back to dominating opposing offensive lines. Preston and Za’Darius Smith, when they’re both on their game, are nearly impossible for opposing offensive lines to stop.
We are predicting that Smith will end up with 50 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interceptions this season. Those numbers would boost the Packers’ defense in a big way. If he can reach those predictions, the Green Bay defense will take a big step forward from where they were in 2020.
It’s going to be an interesting season for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers may or may not play and his future with the franchise past this year is even more in doubt than it is this year. This could be the last chance that Green Bay has to win a Super Bowl with the core that has gotten them to back-to-back NFC Championship Games.
Expect to see Preston Smith come out with a chip on his shoulder looking to prove himself once again. The Packers know what he is capable of, and we are going to see it this season.
