4:00pm: The Saints signed Smith following his workout today, according to Schultz (on Twitter).
3:10pm: A week after working out for the Raiders, Jaylon Smith is auditioning for the Saints. The free agent linebacker worked out for New Orleans today, according to Jordan Schultz (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Raiders Work Out LB Jaylon Smith]
It’s been a quiet offseason for Smith, with his Raiders visit marking his first reported workout. Despite getting into 23 games over the past two years, Smith had to settle for practice squad gigs during the 2021 regular season and 2022 offseason. If he does find a landing spot this month, he’ll probably be inking another non-guaranteed pact.
The former second-round pick was a Pro Bowler during his time with the Cowboys, with the linebacker averaging 139 tackles per season between 2018 and 2020. He underwent wrist surgery during the 2021 offseason, and after refusing to waive his 2022 injury guaranteed (while also getting lapped by Micah Parsons and Keanu Neal on the depth chart), Smith was cut by Dallas.
After catching on with the Giants at the end of the 2021 campaign, he re-joined their practice squad last September. He ended up seeing time in 13 games (11 starts) during the 2022 season, collecting 88 tackles and one sack. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 60th among 81 qualifying linebackers, although they did grade him as one of the best pass-rushing options at his position.
Earlier this week, Saints head coach Dennis Allen hinted that the team could be looking for some depth at off-ball linebacker. Demario Davis had been sidelined with a calf injury, leaving 2022 fifth-round pick D’Marco Jackson as the primary option at the position.
Good for him. I think Allen can get something out of him. Always going to cheer for this guy. Hope he does well
I’ve commented on Smith before. While I am happy for the way he came back from that devastating knee injury at Notre Dame, he is a shell of his old self. I watch him the last year in Dallas a s well as his last 2 seasons with the Giants. He is slow afoot, slow to react, can’t cover a TE and makes many tackles 5-7 yards past the line of scrimmage. His days of chasing down ball carriers sideline to sideline are in the rearview mirror. What good is an interior linebacker who can’t stop the run, is to slow to make plays near the sideline, and is always chasing from behind.
While I’m glad he’s getting an opportunity to play, I would be very surprised if he makes the 53 man, or even at his age is on the practice squad. Sorry Dude, your days playing the NFL are over.
Agreed. That was a magnificent, if short lived, linebacking duo between Smith and Vander Esch in Dallas. It’s a shame that injuries derailed both of their careers (especially after coming back from college era injury concerns). It would have been special to see them alongside Parsons for a couple of years, but that’s not the way the fates planned it.
Smith was, as you said, a shell of his former self in Green Bay and New York. It’s like watching a different player, which is doubly unfortunate considering that he always seemed to be a positive locker room and off the field personality. He’s worked very hard to prove himself throughout his career, despite having a laudable pedigree from a prestigious university. It’s just not the same watching him his second injury. Here’s to hoping that Smith can get back on track, because he has certainly worked for it.
Jaylon Smith was quite right not to waive any clauses. He collected $16,600,000 in dead money from his legitimate contract. If the Cowboys didn’t want to pay him, they shouldn’t have written and signed that contract. The question is why after collecting that much dosh, Smith wants to play on vet minimum. It must be love of the game.
The Giants gig was probably attempted revenge on the Cowboys.
Good signing by the Saints at these prices. If Smith is injured again, no harm done. If Smith stays healthy, he’s a solid rotational linebacker.