SHOCKING ANNOUNCEMENT: Packers Matt LaFleur Has Officially Confirmed and Announced Packers Most Experienced and Fans Favourite Star Has Officially Played His Last Game for Green Bay in Week 9

The Green Bay Packers lost a mistake-filled Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions, and it could have been Preston Smith’s final game with the organization.

With a chance to move up to first position in the NFC North, the Packers went the opposite way, going 0-2 in the division—both losses coming at Lambeau Field.

This performance was in the “what could go wrong” category. Green Bay committed 10 penalties, lost six passes, fumbled three snaps, and threw a pick-six. If this was Preston Smith’s farewell to Green Bay, it wasn’t quite a formal send-off.

Smith, one of the Packers’ longest-tenured players, has been a source of consistency since signing with the team in 2019, with Za’Darius Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner. Four years later, Smith had outlasted them all.

By this point, Green Bay was hoped that a younger player would have taken his place. They even paid a first-round pick on Lukas Van Ness in 2023 to be that person, but with Van Ness unable to establish his feet, Smith has retained his position by default.

In six seasons with the Packers, Smith has 44 sacks, 262 tackles, six forced fumbles, and one interception. But for a defence looking to be a playmaking force under new coordinator Jeff Hafley, steady doesn’t quite cut it. Hafley has been clear: he wants game changers. And, while Smith provides a consistent floor, his lack of high-impact plays puts him on the trading block as the Packers consider their options.

The salary cap is another reason why the Packers may consider dealing him.

Smith’s compensation will rise to $17.5 million by 2025, a high price for a veteran who is solid but no longer transformational. He has already taken two pay cuts to stay with the Packers, but if the team wants to clear cap space or prioritize younger players, Tuesday’s trade deadline could be their last chance to move him.

If Smith leaves, it will allow younger players like Kingsley Enagbare, Van Ness, and Arron Mosby to take on larger responsibilities, while Brenton Cox Jr. may see action for the first time.

Last season, the Packers traded Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round pick for a third-round pick to improve their future prospects. A similar move with Smith would demonstrate Green Bay’s sustained commitment to developing a new core. With the deadline approaching, all eyes are on how the Packers will handle this key choice.